Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 477

What are SF Giants center field options after Jung Hoo Lee’s injury?

SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants will know more about the outlook for Jung Hoo Lee when their rookie center fielder meets with Dr. Ken Akizuki, the team’s head orthopedist, later Monday evening to review an MRI on his injured left shoulder.

For now, they know he dislocated his shoulder crashing into the outfield wall in the first inning of Sunday’s walk-off win over the Reds and that, whether or not it needs to be surgically repaired, the injury typically comes with a lengthy recovery.

Manager Bob Melvin said before first pitch Monday against the Dodgers that “I would think no at this point, based on what I’m hearing,” regarding the possibility of surgery, which could be the difference between a six-to-eight week absence and potentially missing the remainder of his first major-league season.

“It takes a little while to process this,” the Giants manager said of his 25-year-old center fielder after talking with his interpreter, Justin Han, in the aftermath of the injury. “He’s very team-oriented and wants to be out there for his team and therefore is disappointed, but there’s not much you can do about it.

“You make an all-out effort like that to catch a ball in the first inning, make that play and it’s a huge momentum swing. All of a sudden our center fielder’s down. We had to recover from that a little bit. I’m sure he’s feeling it right now. He wants to be out there for his team.”

In the meantime, the Giants have a variety of options who can play center field but perhaps no one player who can match Lee’s unique skillset.

As their primary leadoff hitter, Lee has elite at putting the ball in play, one of three qualified batters who are striking out in fewer than 10% of their plate appearances (his company: Luis Arraez and Steven Kwan). On the bases, his speed hasn’t translated to as many steals as the Giants would like (caught three times on five attempts) but still provides the threat to run unlike anyone besides Thairo Estrada.

The vast outfield grass of Oracle Park’s center field, with alleyways on both sides, may be where Lee’s absence is felt the most. His sprint speed of 28.4 feet per second ranks in the top 17% of major leaguers, behind only Tyler Fitzgerald (29.8) and Matt Chapman (28.5) on the Giants, and helped him cover all that ground.

According to Statcast, Lee had provided plus-1 run of fielding value, in the 62nd percentile leaguewide, with arm strength — an average of 94.2 mph on his throws — that ranked in the top 2% of MLB outfielders.

“Now I know why they call him ‘Grandson of the Wind,’” Jordan Hicks marveled after Lee chased down — and backhanded — a surefire extra-base hit in his last start at Citizens Bank Park. Earlier in the road trip, he showed the ability to charge shallow pop flies, too, laying out for a diving catch at Fenway Park and slamming his glove into the grass, gratified at making up for a misplay earlier in the inning.

That speed — and effort — was exemplified all the way until Lee collided with the outfield wall Sunday afternoon.

“Everybody felt it early in the game,” Melvin said. “We come back in the dugout and it wasn’t a great feeling. But the way we responded, being down like that, the first portion of the game didn’t feel too good. Trying to win a series, to be able to come back, lose the lead again and come back again, I’m proud of the way they scrapped the entire game. But we did feel the effects of that when it happened.”

Now, the Giants must weather the effects in the longer term.

Lee was their seventh position player in the past 10 days to land on the injured list, joining Patrick Bailey (concussion), Tom Murphy (left knee sprain), Jorge Soler (right shoulder strain), Nick Ahmed (left wrist sprain) and Austin Slater (concussion).

On Monday, Melvin penciled Luis Matos into center field, batting eighth, and said the 23-year-old “is going to get a pretty good shot out there.” Without Michael Conforto (hamstring) or Jorge Soler (shoulder), Heliot Ramos was also expected to make regular starts in the corner outfield spots.

Melvin also named Fitzgerald as an option in center — he has played 15 games there since being called up last year — and said Mike Yastrzemski would take fly balls there in the event he is needed to fill in, too.

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One option not on the table: Wade Meckler, the only other outfielder on the 40-man roster. He hasn’t appeared in a game this season after straining his left wrist in the Giants’ exhibition in Sacramento.

“Look, we have some other options now and that’s what we need to concentrate on,” Melvin said. “There are a lot of holes that we have right now with a lot of the guys going down, but it creates an opportunity for somebody else.”

Notable

C Jakson Reetz was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento to take the roster spot of Lee, who was placed on the 10-day injured list. … Bailey was held out of the lineup for a second straight game as the Giants work to determine whether the “head cold” he woke up with Sunday was related to his recent concussion. … Soler could begin a one- or two-game rehab assignment later this week if the next steps in his hitting progression go well. … After throwing four scoreless innings Sunday in a rehab start for Single-A San Jose, Blake Snell (adductor) was set to meet with Giants doctors Monday to determine the next steps in his rehab. Potentially signaling Snell is ready to rejoin the rotation, the Giants optioned Mason Black to Triple-A on Monday, recalling Nick Avila to bolster their bullpen. Black made two starts in Snell’s rotation spot, going 0-1 with a 6.23 ERA, and cannot be called back up for a minimum of 10 days without another injury.

Civil Grand Jury suggests Monterey airport district improve outreach on noise

MONTEREY – The Monterey County Civil Grand Jury investigated a community complaint regarding noise that aircraft produce during take off and landing at the Monterey Regional Airport and came away recommending better community outreach.

“The grand jury spent time to learn about the airport and what we can and can’t do” about aircraft noise, said Monterey Regional Airport Executive Director Mike La Pier. “We appreciate that as there’s always room for improvement in what we do.”

Every one of California’s 58 counties convenes a group of citizens annually to take an oath to serve as grand jurors to investigate the operations of various officers, departments and agencies of local government. Their annual reports aim to provide a foundation for discussion and action to improve local government services.

One such report titled “Monterey Regional Airport: Understanding Noise” was released earlier this month detailing the grand jury’s investigation into Monterey airport aircraft noise and found that “the public is largely unaware of the multiple factors involved in airport noise, flight paths, and schedules,” and put forth a number of recommendations centered around communicating with the community about those multiple factors.

The Monterey Peninsula Airport District regulates and manages all operational functions which take place on the ground, the Civil Grand Jury report states. The District does not have the authority to regulate what happens in the airspace, including flight paths. Those regulations are dictated by the Federal Aviation Administration and are done so uniformly across the United States.

“We don’t control when aircraft land and take off here,” said La Pier. “The FAA has the last say and controls the airspace.”

The Monterey airport operates 24/7 according to Federal Aviation Administration regulations which say it must be available for emergencies, military operations, commercial carriers, weather delays, and aircraft operational issues.

Federal Aviation Administration regulations control the flight paths and aircraft routing into and out of every airport, including the Monterey airport. The airport can only encourage pilots on Visual Flight Rules to fly over unpopulated areas.

Noise is a common nuisance related to airports, especially to people living along common flight paths or close to the airport, the Civil Grand Jury report notes. This issue is being addressed slowly nationwide as newer commercial and private aircraft are considerably quieter and more fuel efficient.

Joby Aviation’s electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle, which is being produced in Marina, is a good example of the future of air travel say some. Joby has designed and produced an electric air taxi that will carry a pilot and four passengers at speeds up to 200 mph offering high-speed mobility with a fraction of the noise produced by helicopters and zero operating emissions.

“There is a lot of discussion in the industry about exploring using hydrogen-powered engines that would be quieter,” said La Pier.

For its part, the Monterey airport is moving toward using electric-powered ground equipment to reduce noise. La Pier said that at the new Monterey Regional Airport terminal, currently in the design phase, airlines will be required to use electric ground power units, refuelers, tugs and tractors, and other equipment currently powered by fossil fuels. Jet bridges will also be all electric. Using electric-powered equipment is far less noisy and better for the environment, he said.

The airport district regularly reviews and logs complaints received, but the Civil Grand Jury found that the district could improve its community outreach efforts, especially regarding noise complaints, and should make those public complaints and its responses more easily found on its website.

The airport district came into being in 1941 and is governed by five publicly-elected board members, each representing a portion of the 498-acre district that stretches from the Monterey Peninsula eastward encompassing the cities of Carmel, Del Rey Oaks, Monterey, Pacific Grove, and Sand City, along with portions of Seaside, Pebble Beach, Carmel Highlands, Carmel Valley, and the Monterey-Salinas Highway to Laureles Grade.

The mission of the Monterey Regional Airport is to provide the region with convenient commercial and general aviation access to the national air transportation system, operating in a safe, efficient, sustainable, fiscally responsible manner, while developing the airport to meet future needs, opportunities and challenges.

La Pier said the Monterey Regional Airport understands the recommendations put forth by the Monterey County Civil Grand Jury is “going to take them under serious consideration and advisement.”

The Monterey Peninsula Airport District Board of Directors is required to respond within 90 days of the publication of the report.

Clipboard: Monterey hurler Wedderburn to pitch at CSU East Bay next year

With a promising pitching career put on hold following elbow surgery last season, the endless hours of rehabilitation tested Nathan Wedderburn’s mental fortitude.

Losing a full year to Tommy John surgery as a junior took him off of some college baseball recruiters’ radar, as the right-hander would have to prove himself all over again.

While it has been a small sample size in his return this spring for Monterey High, the results were enough for CSU East Bay to make an offer to Wedderburn.

“Of course, you have doubts that you might be done,” Wedderburn said. “But when you put trust into your doctor and he tells you that you’ll be able to pitch again, you have something to fight for.”

Building his arm strength back up at a prescribed pace, Wedderburn has been lights out in a handful of starts for the Toreadores this year, posting an 0.58 earned run average.

In 36 innings this year, the 5-foot-10 Wedderburn has struck out 46 hitters, while issuing just eight walks, posting a 2-2 record.

“My rehab was originally scheduled for seven months,” Wedderburn said. “I took an extra two or three months of physical therapy just to build my whole body up. I pushed through it.”

With assurances that he would do no damage to his surgically repaired right elbow, the 18-year-old senior spent the winter playing on Monterey’s State Division IV basketball title team.

“I was still going through PT during basketball,” Wedderburn said. “But I was pretty mobile in my fifth month. I was able to shoot the ball. There were no setbacks playing basketball.”

With his fastball back up at 89 mph, Wedderburn has gradually increased his pitch count during the spring for the Toreadores.

“I’m still working my way through it,” Wedderburn said. “I can be throwing much harder. It’s all a part of the journey.”

Wedderburn has been cleared to throw all five of his pitches in his arsenal, with the cutter being his strikeout pitch.

“I started throwing the curveball again with no irritation,” Wedderburn said. “I’m still cautious of what pitches I’m throwing. I’m still aware of my injury and what happened. But everything feels good.”

During his three seasons at Monterey, the senior has struck out 258 hitters in 184 innings, posting a 1.60 earned run average.

“You have to have that confidence to let it go,” Wedderburn said. “There were some nerves in my first outing. After I threw that first pitch, that subsided and I said to myself I can play the game I love.”

Wedderburn put together an MVP-type season on the hill in 2022, posting a 1.07 ERA, with 127 strikeouts in 87 innings, earning a spot on The Herald’s All-County baseball team.

“East Bay was looking for pitchers for next year,” Wedderburn said. “I want to make an impact right away.”

Wedderburn is the first player in the county to be a part of a state championship basketball team and a CCS baseball title team, hurling the Toreadores to a Division III title in 2022.

Markow coaches SLO rugby to title

A historic season for head coach Zach Markow was capped with a national championship.

The former Carmel High football standout guided the Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo women’s rugby team to a Division II national championship recently in Houston, Texas.

Markow, who is in his sixth season as the Mustangs coach, had qualifying teams in the 7s and 15s (players on the field), with his 15s squad beating Eckerd in the title match.

A member of the title team as a player was another Carmel product in 2020 graduate Mira Meckel, who helped the team to a West Coast Conference championship.

The 7s squad, which earned a trip to Houston after winning the conference title, finished sixth at the nationals.

Segura dealing, Trosky hitting for Oregon State

True freshman Eric Segura shares the team lead in wins and starts this spring for the Oregon State baseball team, compiling a 5-1 record.

The 6-foot-2, right-handed hurler has recorded 60 strikeouts in 56 innings, sporting a 5.11 earned run average for the No. 7 ranked Beavers.

The Herald’s Player of the Year in baseball as a junior at Soledad in 2022, Segura posted an 0.61 ERA, while hitting .465 with 10 doubles and 13 stolen bases that year.

Oregon State teammate Jabin Trosky has started six of the last seven games at third base, hitting .315 in 19 starts this spring.

A redshirt sophomore, who has also spent time at shortstop this year, the Carmel graduate has driven in 12 runs and walked 10 times, compiling a .408 on-base percentage.

Kosmont breaks Yale record

Juliette Kosmont has had an auspicious first college season running track and field for Yale University, breaking a pair of school records this spring.

The former Santa Catalina sprinter rewrote the school 60-meter indoor mark earlier this year at 7.55 seconds, then returned for the outdoor season to set a new standard in the 100 meters (11.80), shaving more than a tenth of a second off her career best.

A two-time state meet qualifier at Santa Catalina, Kosmont is No. 2 all-time in the county in the 100 meters at 11.91, finishing ninth as a junior at the state championships.

Kosmont recently anchored Yale’s 400 relay team to a sixth place finish at the Ivy League Championships in 46.63.

Owner of five all-league titles in track and field at Santa Catalina, Kosmont is also No. 4 all-time in the county in the 200 meters at 24.67.

Lemmon playing outfield for New York University

Former Salinas High softball standout Mia Lemmon is hitting .250 in 28 games for the New York University softball team.

Listed as a utility player, the sophomore has made starts in right field and left field this spring for NYU, having ripped a homer with six runs batted in, compiling a .318 on-base percentage.

Lemmon has raised her batting average over .100 points from her freshman season, where she started 25 games, establishing college career highs in five different categories.

Lemmon was a part of the Cowboys’ Central Coast Section Division IV finals team in 2022, one of five players from that roster playing college softball.

Monterey PONY softball team earns top seed

The Monterey PONY 12-under softball team — which was brought back this year — posted a 9-3 record to earn a top three seed going into the postseason.

Members of the playoff bound team are Alexandra Aliotti, Caterina Montante, Chloe Gibson, Ella Cardinale-Pena, Khloe Mora, Kierra Phillips, Lillian Ward, Penelope Amorin, Peyton Haag, Sadie Mazzei and Violet Mazzei.

Coaching the team are Gaspare Montante, Prashant Mora and John Mazzei.

California Insurance Commissioner’s Office to make stop in Santa Cruz County

SANTA CRUZ — Amid an escalating crisis in homeowners insurance both locally and statewide, a representative from California’s Department of Insurance — the nation’s largest state consumer protection agency — will come to Santa Cruz County to discuss recent market shifts and answer questions from county leaders.

The office of California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara will send a high-level spokesperson to Tuesday’s county Board of Supervisors meeting to share a presentation on issues facing residents in the wildland-urban interface region and what the state agency plans to do to solve those problems.

As climate change and severe weather impacts continue to rise, so too are rates from many of the state’s largest home insurers, if coverage isn’t discontinued altogether. Most recently, Travelers Insurance announced it was planning to raise rates for hundreds of thousands of policyholders by an average of 15.3%, according to a recent report from the Bay Area News Group. This news came less than two months after State Farm, the state’s largest insurer, said it plans to drop coverage for 72,000 homes across the state, many of which are in Santa Cruz County.

“The loss of insurance has had life-altering consequences for many in our community,” said 2nd District Supervisor Zach Friend, who requested the visit from the commissioner’s office. “Residents are either paying astronomically higher rates for less coverage or aren’t able to find coverage at all putting their home and what they’ve worked for at risk.”

The market conditions have forced many homeowners to join the state’s last-resort FAIR Plan, which provides significantly less coverage at higher costs.

Meanwhile, Lara and his team have announced an intention to overhaul home insurance regulations by the end of the year in an effort to stabilize the volatile market.

The representative from Lara’s office is expected to appear before the board no sooner than 1 p.m. Tuesday in board chambers at 701 Ocean St., Room 525, Santa Cruz.

To provide another opportunity for the public to more directly engage with experts on this issue, the commissioner’s representative will also attend a subsequent community education and preparedness workshop in Scotts Valley later that same day.

That meeting has been set for 6-8 p.m. Tuesday inside the Performing Arts and Cultural Center at 251 Kings Village Road, Scotts Valley. It will include presentations from Cal Fire, Firewise and the Scotts Valley Fire Department. Scotts Valley Vice Mayor Derek Timm will moderate a panel discussion with United Policyholders, Cassidy Insurance Agency and the Realtors Association.

Permit center extension

The board’s Tuesday agenda also includes consideration of a contract extension with 4Leaf Inc., which was hired in the aftermath of the CZU Lightning Complex Fire to help local residents with permitting and general recovery-related services through the Recovery Permit Center.

The permit center, established in 2021, is scheduled to sunset at the end of June but the proposed $600,000 contract would extend its services to fire survivors for another six months. During that time, county staff plans to create an integrated service model that puts 4Leaf staff within the county’s Department of Community Development and Infrastructure’s Environmental Health Division.

CZU survivors would continue to receive priority customer service, same-day and walk-in appointments as well as expedited pre-clearance and building permit review, according to a release from the county. The recommended action also includes approving the first phase of a transition plan to integrate the recovery permit center into the county’s unified permit center.

This item appears in the regular agenda and will be addressed after the meeting begins at 9 a.m.

Bond issuance

As the county’s infrastructure struggles to recover from the eight federally declared disasters it has experienced since 2017, the board will also consider authorizing issuance of up to $95 million in bonds to address growing cash flow troubles.

According to the staff report, the county racked up more than $250 million from 2017 to 2023 in claims eligible for reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The problem is that only about 50% of those claims — more than $125 million — have been paid back so far, causing the county to spend money for urgent cleanups, particularly on roadways, that it doesn’t recoup for six or seven years at times.

The bonds would help provide the county with necessary funds to keep things running while it waits for reimbursement. According to the staff report, this capital financing will be the largest in the county’s history.

This item is also not expected to be considered until the afternoon session, after 1 p.m.

Motorsports: Traffic proves challenging in Laguna Seca IMSA race

LAGUNA SECA  >> And you thought the traffic was bad coming home from Mother’s Day brunch on Sunday.

A trio of relatively minor on-track mishaps had a major impact on two of the three classes in this weekend’s IMSA Motul Course de Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

The race featured three classes of cars on the track simultaneously, complicating split-second decisions and making it hectic for drivers attempting to navigate position on an already difficult track.

Nick Tandy and co-driver Mathieu Jaminet saw this first hand as they piloted No. 6 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 to the checkered flag in the top-class Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) finishing 5.764 seconds ahead of Jack Aitken in the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac. Felipe Nasr and Dane Cameron took third in the No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 to maintain a 50-point lead in the GTP standings over the No. 31 Cadillac.

The victory was Porsche Penske Motorsport’s 100th sports car win, and Porsche’s 600th IMSA win, taking place with racing icon Roger Penske on hand. But the nearly three-hour contest wasn’t settled until the final minutes.

Aitken, leading at the time, was the victim of the type of traffic mishap that happens in a crowded IMSA field when his move to pass two Grand Touring Daytona (GTD) cars with about 12 minutes left was inadvertently blocked, causing him to slip off the track coming out of Turn 4. Tandy capitalized, took the lead, and ultimately the first-place trophy. The win puts the No. 6 Porsche car in second place, 10 points behind Cadillac in GTP’s manufacturer points standings.

“I feel for Jack,” Tandy said. “It wasn’t obvious what was going to happen. He picked one side just as they started to go that way. I had a grandstand seat to see where they were going and managed to go the other way and take the lead.”

On lap 109 Tandy and Aitken attempted to split two GTD racers – Tandy down the inside and Aitken around the outside. Aitken guessed wrong and was pushed into the gravel as Tandy took the lead.

“Every time we would catch traffic, I knew I had to put pressure on (Aiken),” Tandy said. “If you have a 10-second gap, it’s easy to measure up the traffic. You can pick and choose; you can just wait and pass on the exit. But when somebody is pressuring you for 20 or 30 laps — the decisions have to get quicker and more off the cuff. Nine times out of 10, it’s pretty obvious.”

Initially it also seemed obvious that Sébastien Bourdais would have a great shot at capturing a GTP win. Bourdais produced a record-setting lap in Saturday’s qualifying putting his No. 1 Cadillac in the pole position with Tandy’s Porsche three spots behind.

Bourdais led for the first 40 laps until a collision saw Dane Cameron’s No. 7 Porsche Penske get hit from the back, scattering debris on track. A full-course yellow flag brought the field closer together behind a safety car, sabotaging Bourdais’ lead. Aitken overtook him and was in good position until the traffic tussle with the GTD cars handed the lead — and the win — to Tandy, Jaminet, Porsche and Penske.

“I can tell you there’s a lot of pressure coming from Porsche because they expect us to win,” Penske said postrace. “We’ve been through a lot of stuff this past couple of weeks, but hey, we’re on a roll.”

Turner Motorsports also had its own Sunday drama, impacted by the second traffic snafu. With less than five minutes to go, the No. 557 Turner Motorsports BMW driven by Robby Foley and Patrick Gallagher was bumped off track. The collision opened the door for Russell Ward and Phillip Ellis in the No. 57 Winward Mercedes-AMG to win the GTD race, their third win in four starts. It also ruined Turner Motorsports’ 557th start for BMW, the most for any team globally. Foley recovered for his team’s second consecutive second-place finish leaving them in second in overall points, providing a bittersweet ending for Turner Motorsports.

“It was shaping up to be a great day for our 55th race, and we wanted to make it count,” said team owner Will Turner. “Unfortunately, this was one of the worst second place finishes we’ve had. We got to the lead and everything was going great until a prototype ruined our day with some contact and we got passed. But that’s IMSA multi-class racing, and anything can happen.”

The day’s only incident-free victory came seconds after Tandy secured win 600 for Porsche. The manufacturer then got their 601st courtesy of Seb Priaulx and Laurin Heinrich when the fan-favorite No. 77 AO Racing 911 GT3 R crossed the finish line ahead of the Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD Pro) field. The iconic dinosaur-themed car captured both driver’s and the team’s first IMSA win and first at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

IMSA action will resume May 31-June 1 with the Detroit Grand Prix. The race will be held on a 1.7-mile circuit, carved out on the Detroit streets. IMSA will join Formula 1 and IndyCar in racing on the Michigan circuit.

‘Slow’ review: He’s asexual. She’s not. The movie explores what happens next.

Like the couple it’s about, “Slow” acknowledges and, to some degree, gives in to expectations set by a world overloaded with conformist-minded romcoms and conventional relationship blueprints. But it’s worth seeing. And for a weeklong run starting Friday at the Gene Siskel Film Center, Chicago audiences can see for themselves.

Simple, efficient set-up here, in Lithuanian writer-director Marija Kavtaradze’s second feature. We meet Elena in her natural element, in a dance studio, working out some new contemporary choreography. A man arrives and introduces himself as Dovydas, a sign language interpreter. He’s bringing a group of deaf adolescent students to the studio where Elena develops a dance piece with them, communicating non-verbally, as choreographer and performer, and through Dovydas’ signing.

There’s a warmth and something of a spark between the two adults. They share a performer’s expressivity in their respective mediums. “Slow” returns periodically to scenes of Dovydas alone, on camera, providing eloquent sign language translation for pop song lyrics; throughout the film, Elena rehearses in the studio with two fellow dancers, as they prepare a piece for full production.

Soon enough, after a few walk-and-talks, they’re in Elena’s bedroom, on the brink of a next step. That step in “Slow” turns out to be two words that reset Elena’s expectations. “I’m asexual,” Dovydas says. Not attracted to anyone, really, he adds. “Never was.” The end? Hardly; the friendship already underway has created a closeness that feels right. “Slow” is about how that feeling leads to a relationship frontier new to Elena, and rewarding and challenging and frustrating and fraught to both parties.

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The script has its on-the-nose impulses. A visit with Elena’s ice-cold, fat-shaming mother explains it all for us, too bluntly. And while the actors work with real skill and ease together, “Slow” tends to establish and re-establish the characters’ connection in familiar ways, with lots of tense conversational silence followed by mutual peals of laughter.

When the scenes work, however, they really work, and the conversation feels like some things are being said, straightforwardly and without ambiguity (you know, like they talk in the movies) while other things are not. “Slow” goes only so far into Dovydas’s self-proclaimed state of sexual being, while complicating it along the narrative path. I took the film not as any sort of design for living, or facile explanation of anything, but as a design for communicating — honestly, humanely, painfully, sometimes — for the good of whatever relationships yours happen to be.

“Slow” — 3 stars (out of 4)

No MPA rating (sexual content, some language)

Running time: 1:48

How to watch: May 10-16 at the Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St.; siskelfilmcenter.org. In Lithuanian and English with English subtitles.

Michael Phillips is a Tribune critic.

Yes, you can balance homebuying and summer travel

By late spring, homebuying season is in full swing. And right when all the good listings start popping up, so does summer wanderlust — especially if you were cooped up all winter.

House hunting can be exhausting, especially in today’s competitive market. So if you need a vacation, are you throwing away your shot at success?

Karen Wilder, a real estate agent with Mott & Chace Sotheby’s International Realty in Charlestown, Rhode Island, doesn’t think so.

“Sometimes, it can be the best thing for your search for you to just take a little time off,” she says.

If you want to travel and house-hunt at the same time, you have to plan ahead and consider your short- and long-term goals. Here’s how to balance the homebuying process with a much-needed summer getaway.

Weigh your priorities

First, gut-check your travel plans against FOMO: the fear of missing out. In a hot market, home shoppers need to act fast when a great house gets listed. Maybe you have a truly can’t-miss trip — say, your bestie’s destination wedding or a major work conference. But if you have the option to schedule your travel later, it might be worth it to wait.

To help you decide, consider how you’d feel if “the” house came along while you were out of town. Would you regret not being there for an in-person walkthrough? Would you rather be on the beach than on the phone with your buyer’s agent?

“Everybody needs to consider their own comfort level with shopping remotely — their own sort of FOMO when it comes to going away and unplugging,” Wilder says.

The homebuying process is less familiar for first-time home buyers, who might prefer to handle things in person. In her experience, Wilder notes that seasoned real estate buyers or investors are often more comfortable with overseeing a transaction from a distance.

Find a proxy

Krystal Stearns, branch manager at Valor Home Loans in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is one of those seasoned pros. She has purchased six properties across three states without seeing any of them in person first. Digital tools like virtual walk-throughs and listing videos can help, but nothing beats a boots-on-the-ground perspective, she says.

Before you travel, ask an experienced buyer’s agent, trusted friend or family member to attend walk-throughs or open houses on your behalf. When Stearns bought her Florida vacation home sight unseen, she knew she could trust her buyer’s agent to give candid feedback on the place.

“You really need someone who is going to be honest with you, that’s going to look out for you and your family and understand your goals,” she says.

If any must-see listings arise while you’re away, your proxy can walk through the house with you in real time on a video call. They might notice things the listing photos can’t fully capture, from a breathtaking view to a troublesome odor.

“You cannot scratch and sniff online,” Wilder says.

Stay plugged in

Unless you can accommodate a complete pause on your homebuying journey, it’s wise to remain somewhat connected during your travels.

“It might not be the time to climb Mount Everest or, you know, go somewhere completely off the grid,” Wilder says.

Heading on a cruise or long flight? Buy the Wi-Fi. Going camping? Bring a portable power bank to charge your devices (and make sure its battery is full before you leave). Share your travel plans with your buyer’s agent and mortgage team so they know the best way to reach you and how quickly you’re able to respond.

If you’re under contract, your homebuying squad can explain which time-sensitive requests to expect and who will be sending them. For example, if your loan is in underwriting, you might have to submit recent bank statements or pay stubs. Following a home inspection, you’ll want to review the inspection report and negotiate any requests for repairs.

“A closing is, you know, three to four weeks,” Stearns says. “A lot happens in that time period.”

Before you reply to any urgent-sounding emails, check the sender’s address to make sure the request is legit. If something looks off, it could be a mortgage closing scam. Identity criminals can send convincing lookalike emails that attempt to steal your money or personal information.

Watch your spending

A home is one of the biggest purchases you’ll ever make, so now isn’t the time to drain your savings. Before you leave, make a travel budget and stick to it. That’ll save you the stress (or regret) of wondering if you can afford something while you’re in vacation mode.

After mortgage preapproval, lenders keep a close watch on your finances. While you’re traveling, avoid making any unexpected large purchases or opening new lines of credit (like signing up for that airline credit card offer after too many tiny bottles of wine on the plane). Doing so could affect your credit score or debt-to-income ratio, potentially putting your loan approval at risk.

Ultimately, buying a house while enjoying summer travel is possible if you plan ahead and remain reachable by phone or email. It all depends on how you prefer to spend your time.

“Life is short, so live your life as much as you possibly can,” Stearns says. “Don’t let a vacation stop you from buying a house, and don’t let buying a house stop you from going on vacation. Just know it’s going to be a little bit of extra work.”

More From NerdWallet

Compare Current Mortgage RatesHow Much House Can I Afford?Tips for First-Time Home Buyers

Abby Badach Doyle writes for NerdWallet. Email: abadachdoyle@nerdwallet.com.

The article Yes, You Can Balance Homebuying and Summer Travel originally appeared on NerdWallet.

Horoscopes May 13, 2024: Stephen Colbert, light the way for yourself

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Candice Accola, 37; Lena Dunham, 38; Stephen Colbert, 60; Stevie Wonder, 74.

Happy Birthday: Be open, use your imagination and let your creativity lead the way, and you’ll find solutions. Put some oomph behind the message you want to send, and make a point to connect with those you can teach and those you can learn from. Don’t let stubbornness stand between you and your dreams. Light the way for yourself and those stuck in the dark. Your numbers are 6, 17, 23, 29, 32, 37, 41.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Emotions and money will lead to unnecessary purchases. If you are in the spending mood, look for sales or consider reversing your thoughts and selling something you own. Think before you act. 2 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Look for opportunity, and jump at the chance to embark on change. Dedicate your skills to implement your plans, and be the one to start goals. It’s up to you to inspire and be the upbeat guide who sets trends. 4 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Recycle, reuse, redo and move along. Establish what’s important and put every ounce of energy into turning your thoughts into a reality. March to the beat that captures your heart and makes you feel good about the things you do and the difference you make. 3 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Be open about what you think and want to do, and you’ll discover that you are not alone. Step up and be the one to start a movement or to make improvements in all aspects of your life. Define your role and fine-tune how you reach your goal. 3 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Don’t let emotions turn into drama when you can channel the energy and make a positive difference to those around you. You hold the power, and what you do with it makes the difference. Update your skills to fit what’s trending in your profession. 3 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): An open mind will encourage you to take what you discover and head in a direction that sculpts your passion for life. Don’t limit what you can do to spare someone else. Your happiness begins with you. 3 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Draw on your resources and put energy into planning and completion. Take action to avoid getting stuck in a rut. If you find yourself losing momentum, reach out to someone you can depend on to give you a pep talk. 4 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Avoid trouble and allow yourself to establish how you feel and what you want before confronting a situation that puzzles you. Time is on your side and creativity is soaring. Apply your energy to new concepts and developments, and do what you do best. 2 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): It will do you good to get out and about. Taking in what’s happening around you will spark your imagination and encourage you to see your problems differently. Explore what’s available in your community and focus on health, fitness and peace of mind. 5 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Focus on what’s doable, not the impossible. Take care of personal business, contracts and domestic issues to alleviate worry and free up time to take better care of yourself. Don’t let the changes others make stop you from doing what’s best for you. 3 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Overreacting isn’t the answer. Keep busy and concentrate on learning, discovering and handling unfinished business. Blow off steam, run errands and stick to lighthearted conversations that help you relax instead of wind you up. Make short trips, educational pursuits and self-improvement your priorities. 3 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Focus on what you can accomplish. Use your connections to ensure you are updated. An energetic approach and positive attitude will ramp up the speed at which you work and encourage success that goes beyond your expectations. Make long-term plans your focus. 5 stars

Birthday Baby: You are productive, relentless and dependable. You are receptive and unique.

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. 

SF Giants lose Jung Hoo Lee, walk off Reds to win series

SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants have taken blow after blow over the past week and sustained another significant one early Sunday afternoon against the Reds. But if their response to losing their dynamic center fielder offered any indication, then they don’t plan to waive the white flag anytime soon.

Without Jung Hoo Lee, who crumpled onto the warning track in the top of the first inning, the Giants overcame an erratic start from Kyle Harrison and dug themselves out of an early hole to beat the Cincinnati Reds, 6-5, and clinch their second straight series win.

“Look, it’s great to win a game when you have a lot of bad news during the course of it,” manager Bob Melvin said afterward. “To be able to fight back … there were just a lot of contributions in different ways today. It ended up being a good day, in terms of win-loss.”

Rallying from a three-run deficit, the Giants matched the largest of their six comeback victories this season. With their third walkoff hit of the season, they improved to 1-1 in extra-inning games. Playing host to the Dodgers beginning Monday, they will attempt to become the final team in the majors to win three games in a row.

San Francisco Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee (51) injure himself while attempting to catch a fly ball hit by Cincinnati Reds’ Jeimer Candelario (3) in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, May 12, 2024. Jung Hoo Lee would leave the game after injuring himself during the play. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

After Ryan Walker served up a game-tying home run in the eighth inning, Sunday’s win required the walk-off heroics of Casey Schmitt in the bottom of the 10th. Schmitt drove a two-out, two-strike pitch from Lucas Sims into the left-center field gap, allowing Luis Matos to race home from second and score the winning run.

“I was just looking for something I could hit and let it rip,” said Schmitt, one of four position players called up since last Friday to fill in for a litany of injuries. “It sucks to lose a player, but hopefully he’s going to be all right. It was a great team win and a lot of fun to be a part of it.”

Luke Jackson earned the win, powering a fastball past Elly De La Cruz for the final out of the 10th inning to strand the Reds’ automatic runner at third base.

Three hours earlier, Harrison’s first pitch struck TJ Friedl in the hand, forcing him from the game, and the baseball gods took almost immediate retribution. The errant entreaty was a sign of things to come from the left-hander, who issued five walks over five innings, but it was hardly the worst development of the day.

Just five batters after Harrison plunked the Reds’ leadoff man, Lee laid in pain on the warning track as Friedl and three other Reds rounded the bases. Giving chase to Jeimer Candelario’s bases-clearing double, Lee leaped into the center field wall, appeared to jam his left arm, and crumpled to the ground.

Melvin confirmed after the game that Lee dislocated his left shoulder on the play.

San Francisco Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee (51) is escorted to the locker room by a trainer and his translator after injuring himself attempting to catch a fly ball hit by Cincinnati Reds’ Jeimer Candelario (3) in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, May 12, 2024. Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

While the Giants will have a better idea of his prognosis after undergoing MRIs on Monday, the initial outlook, according to Melvin, is “not great.”

“He goes all out,” Melvin said. “When he hit the wall and he went down and didn’t get up, I didn’t have a great feeling about it.”

Fans chanted Lee’s name as he walked off the field, with head trainer Dave Groeschner holding his left arm in place.

“That guy leaves it all out there,” said Harrison, who watched the play unfold from the mound. “I have so much respect for him. Hopefully, he’s all right. The guy’s just a gamer. He’s going for that ball and, yeah, man, comes up with most of the time, too, which is awesome.”

Candelario’s double came after Harrison loaded the bases without surrendering a hit. Still, it amounted to the only damage the Reds could manage against the rookie left-hander, who settled in to complete five innings, allowing five base runners the rest of the way.

Harrison walked off the mound trailing 3-0 but was shown pumping his fist in the dugout as the Giants flipped the score in the bottom half of the inning.

“I just came out flat today,” Harrison said. “I hate to put the boys behind early, but they came out and had my back. It was awesome. It’s resilience. That’s Giants baseball as long as I can remember. Just trying to keep the team in the ballgame and the bats came around.”

San Francisco Giants pitcher Kyle Harrison (45) pitches against the Cincinnati Reds in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, May 12, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

If Lee is forced to miss time, as it would appear, he would be the seventh Giants position player to land on the injured list just since last Friday. Before first pitch, Michael Conforto was placed on the IL, too, with a strained right hamstring he suffered Saturday night.

“It just goes on and on,” Melvin said, listing off the five position players and three starting pitchers missing from their roster.

With all the recent reinforcements, the personnel in the home clubhouse has begun to resemble the group that made up the core of Triple-A Sacramento’s Opening Day roster.

It is a good sign for the Giants’ long-term prospects, then, or at least their ability to withstand the current storm, that their young players have not only not hindered their chances the past two games but played pivotal roles in their wins.

After taking over for Lee in center, Tyler Fitzgerald lined a double that kickstarted the Giants’ five-run rally in the fifth inning. Starting behind the plate for Patrick Bailey, who just returned from a concussion and was scratched with a viral illness, Blake Sabol delivered the final blow of the inning with an RBI single that drove home Heliot Ramos, the defensive star of Saturday’s win who provided another pair of base knocks Sunday.

Schmitt delivered the biggest hit of them all.

“It’s just one of those times during the season where you have to persevere and other guys get some opportunities,” Melvin said. “Those guys came through today. We won the game. That’s all it’s about. We’ll regroup tomorrow.”

San Francisco Giants’ LaMonte Wade Jr. (31) connects for a two-run home run against the Cincinnati Reds in the fifth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, May 12, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

After the rookies started the rally, LaMonte Wade Jr. gave them a temporary lead with a go-ahead shot that couldn’t have happened anywhere else, maybe not even Oracle Park in different conditions.

Wade lifted a fly ball that had no business landing anywhere but the right fielder’s glove. Reaching the jetstream blowing out to McCovey Cove, though, the ball carried and carried, just far enough to clear the Levi’s Landing sign, about 10 feet to the left of the right-field foul pole.

The towering home run traveled only 321 feet. It left the bat at a 50-degree launch angle. In 29 other ballparks, it would have been a fly ball out.

Since Statcast began tracking launch angle in 2015, there had been 77,951 balls put in play on such a sharp upward trajectory. Wade’s was only the fourth to clear the outfield fence, tied for the steepest launch angle for any home run in the majors in that span.

“It was crazy today,” Melvin said. “There were some balls I thought weren’t going out; there were some balls that I thought were and didn’t. The wind really was unpredictable today. Even Casey’s last ball got pushed a little bit.”

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Patrick Bailey (viral illness) was a late scratch from the Giants’ lineup. After returning from concussion protocol Saturday, Bailey was initially penciled in to bat fourth as the designated hitter but was replaced by Wilmer Flores approximately 10 minutes before first pitch.

Up next

The vaunted Dodgers make their first of two visits to Oracle Park this season for a three-game series that begins Monday.

RHP Jordan Hicks (3-1, 2.30) will be opposed by RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (4-1, 2.79) in game one, with first pitch scheduled for 6:45 p.m.

San Francisco Giants pitcher Kyle Harrison (45) covers his mouth with his glove as San Francisco Giants pitching coach Bryan Price (80) chats with the infield players in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, May 12, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Cincinnati Reds’ TJ Friedl (29) steals second base as San Francisco Giants’ Brett Wisley (0) chases the throw from home plate in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, May 12, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee (51) is escorted to the locker room by a trainer after injuring himself attempting to catch a fly ball hit by Cincinnati Reds’ Jeimer Candelario (3) in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, May 12, 2024. Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants’ LaMonte Wade Jr. (31) gestures to teammate Mike Yastrzemski (5) after hitting a two-run home run against the Cincinnati Reds in the fifth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, May 12, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants’ Casey Schmitt (10) celebrates after hitting the game winning walk-off single in the 10th inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, May 12, 2024. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Cincinnati Reds 6-5 in 10 innings. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee (51) wears pink baseball cleats with the words “Hi Mom!” before their MLB game against the Cincinnati Reds at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, May 12, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

On Mother’s Day San Francisco Giants mascot Lou Seal escorts his mother before the start of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, May 12, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants assistant coach Alyssa Nakken (92) stands during the playing of the national anthem before the start of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, May 12, 2024. Nakken is celebrating being a mother for the first time this Mother’s Day. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants first base coach Mark Hallberg (91) celebrates as Casey Schmitt (10) rounds first base after hitting the game winning walk-off single in the 10th inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, May 12, 2024. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Cincinnati Reds 6-5 in 10 innings. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

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SF Giants’ Snell masterful in rehab outing in San Jose

Left-hander Blake Snell pitched an immaculate inning on Sunday against the Stockton Ports at Excite Ballpark as part of a masterful rehab start for Single-A San Jose.

Snell struck out the first three batters he faced in the first inning, Ryan Lasko, Cole Conn, and Myles Naylor, on a minimum of nine pitches. All nine of Snell’s pitches were strikes, and all three Ports hitters struck out swinging.

Snell, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner with the San Diego Padres last season, retired all 12 batters he faced on just 46 pitches, 34 of which were strikes.

Snell finished with seven strikeouts and left the game after the fourth inning, with the San Jose Giants holding a 4-0 lead. Bo Davidson hit a two-run home run, and Bryce Eldridge and Cole Foster each added an RBI.

Snell was placed on the 15-day injured list on April 24 with a left adductor strain, with Giants manager Bob Melvin saying then that it happened during a bullpen session.

Snell went 0-3 with an 11.57 ERA in his first three starts for the Giants after he signed a $62 million, two-year contract with the team in March. In his outings, Snell, 31, allowed 15 earned runs and 18 hits in 11 2/3 innings, with 12 strikeouts and five walks.

Snell had a positive 30-pitch bullpen session on Friday, clearing the way for him to make his rehab start on Sunday.

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“There was just a crispness to it that we weren’t seeing before,” Melvin said of Snell’s bullpen. “The velo was way better in the bullpen as well. He looked more balanced. The breaking ball was sharper. It was pretty encouraging.”

Staff writer Evan Webeck and the Associated Press contributed to this story. Please check back for updates.