Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 79

Dodgers prospect De Paula hits 3-run homer to lift NL to 4-2 win in All-Star Futures Game

By CHARLES ODUM

ATLANTA (AP) — Josue De Paula hit a three-run homer in a four-run fourth inning and the National League beat the American League 4-2 on Saturday in the All-Star Futures Game featuring top prospects.

The National League is 4-1-1 since the Futures Game moved from a U.S. vs. World format to AL vs. NL in 2019.

Noah Schultz, a left-hander in the Chicago White Sox’s organization, gave up four hits and four runs, including the line-drive homer by De Paula that traveled 416 feet to right-center. De Paula, an outfielder, plays for Class A Great Lakes in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ organization.

De Paula, selected the game’s Most Valuable Player, said the homer is “definitely a motivator” in his path to the major leagues.

“For me mentally, a big moment,” De Paula said. “It proved to me, especially to myself, who I really am.”

Schultz then gave up a single to LuJames Groover, who scored on Owen Caissie’s double to left field.

New York Yankees infield prospect George Lombard Jr., the son of Detroit Tigers bench coach George Lombard, walked, stole second base and scored on Braden Montgomery’s groundout in the third to give the AL a 1-0 lead. Lombard also had a double.

Carson Whisenhunt #18 of the San Francisco Giants throws a pitch in the seventh inning during the 2025 All-Star Futures Game at Truist Park on July 12, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Josue Briceño, a Double-A catcher for Detroit, tripled and scored on Sebastian Walcott’s sacrifice fly in the fourth to push the lead to 2-0.

The Giants’ Carson Whisenhunt and Trent Harris, both Triple-A pitchers for Sacramento, had scoreless appearances. Harris pitched a scoreless fifth inning with two strikeouts. Whisenhunt, the Giants’ No. 2 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, pitched 2/3 innings with a strikeout in the seventh inning.

Chill bumps for Chipper

Two former Atlanta stars, Chipper Jones and Marquis Grissom, were the managers for the NL and AL, respectively.

Jones was an eight-time All-Star third baseman who spent his entire career with Atlanta before becoming a first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee in 2018.

Jones and Grissom were teammates on Atlanta’s 1995 World Series championship team. Grissom caught a fly ball in center field for the clinching final out in the win over Cleveland.

“You can’t measure my chill bumps right now with a yard stick,” Jones said when asked about the memory of watching Grissom “just glide to it and knowing that he’s got a bead on it and this puppy’s over, it was like it was happening in slow motion.”

For starters

Right-hander JR Ritchie, am Atlanta prospect who has pitched for High-A Rome and Double-A Columbus this season, because the 10th pitcher to start a Futures Game in his organization’s home park. Ritchie had two strikeouts in a scoreless first inning.

Ritchie said he received a phone call from Jones telling him he would start.

“It was unbelievable,” Ritchie said. “I never thought Chipper Jones would call me.”

Left-hander Parker Messick, who is with Cleveland’s Triple-A Columbus, had a scoreless first inning for the AL.

Father and son

Grissom’s son, Marquis Grissom Jr., a right-hander for the Washington Nationals’ Triple-A Rochester, gave up one run in one inning for the NL while his father was in the opposing dugout. He said he was looking forward to bragging about the win to his father.

“He lost!” Grissom Jr. said. “He took the L so he better be ready when I get home!”

“I’m just happy to be a part of this, and get a chance to see my son, all the work he’s put in to be a part of this and excel his baseball career,” the elder Grissom said, adding the chance “to be around the future stars of the game, it doesn’t really get any better than that for me.”

Switch-pitcher skills

Seattle minor leaguer Jurrangelo Cijntje showed off his switch-pitching skills in his scoreless second inning for the AL. He recorded a strikeout against Jesús Made while pitching from the right side, when threw from the left side while coaxing a fly ball from De Paula before giving up a single to LuJames Groover, again from the right side and then switching yet again to strike out Joe Mack and end the inning.

SF Giants’ offense silenced as Ohtani pitches in rivalry for first time

SAN FRANCISCO — Following Friday night’s 8-7 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers, shortstop Willy Adames assessed that there were “too many Dodgers fans here.” Starting pitcher Logan Webb made a similar remark.

“Maybe tomorrow we get some San Francisco fans,” Adames said.

Dodgers fans didn’t take over Oracle Park on Saturday afternoon. Their presence, however, was impossible to ignore. Especially the sea of blue and white that filled the bleachers. With the Giants losing to the Dodgers, 2-1, as Shohei Ohtani pitched in the rivalry for the first time and Los Angeles snapped its seven-game losing streak, those opposing fans had a chance to talk their talk.

“It’s been (a lot of) white and blue, for sure,” said left fielder Heliot Ramos. “I hope the fans come out this last game tomorrow — Giants fans.”

The breadth of Ohtani’s two-way talents have been on display over the last two days.

On Friday, Ohtani logged his first career Splash Hit by sending a cutter from Logan Webb into McCovey Cove. On Saturday, Ohtani went 0-for-4 at the plate but tossed three scoreless innings with four strikeouts, touching as high as 99.9 mph with his four-seam fastball. Including his time with the Los Angeles Angels, Ohtani has allowed one run in 15 innings (0.60 ERA) against San Francisco.

“He was just attacking everybody,” Ramos said. “His fastball looked pretty good. He was flowing on the mound. I feel like that was the main thing: He was attacking everybody and he was making his pitches.”

Landen Roupp made pitches of his own, turning in a quality start in his final appearance of the first half by two runs over six innings with eight strikeouts.

For Roupp, Saturday’s outing represented a rebound after he allowed six earned runs over 1 2/3 innings during his last against the Dodgers as the Giants were blown out in Los Angeles. Roupp was so dissatisfied with his first outing against the Dodgers that he deviated from routine and didn’t watch any film from that start.

“I just had full control of everything,” Roupp said. “Last outing at Dodger Stadium, kind of really just didn’t have a feel for anything. Today, I was a little different and I was able to get through six.”

In five starts since that L.A. outing, Roupp has allowed five earned runs over 26 1/3 innings (1.71 ERA) with 26 strikeouts. Roupp will go into the break with a 3.27 ERA over 96 1/3 innings, firmly establishing himself as the No. 3 starter in the Giants’ rotation behind Logan Webb and Robbie Ray.

“This team’s good enough to be in the playoffs, and I want to be pitching in the playoffs,” Roupp said.

“I feel like he looks more sure about himself,” Ramos said. “He looks better. He looks confident. He looks like he belongs. He pitched a great game. I feel bad that we couldn’t have his back today, but he’s looked better and better every time he pitches.”

As well as Roupp pitched, the right-hander got saddled with the loss as San Francisco’s offense was silenced by Ohtani and Emmet Sheehan, who allowed one run over 4 1/3 innings of bulk relief.

San Francisco Giants’ Willy Adames (2) sits after tossing the ball towards second against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Landen Roupp (65) walks back to the dugout after pitching against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the sixth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)Los Angeles Dodgers’ Dalton Rushing (68) lays on the ground after diving for a foul ball which is caught by Los Angeles Dodgers’ Tommy Edman (25) against San Francisco Giants’ Willy Adames (2) in the ninth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee (51) strikes out against Los Angeles Dodgers’ Tanner Scott (66) in the ninth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani (17) strikes out against San Francisco Giants’ Joey Lucchesi (57) in the seventh inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants’ Rafael Devers (16) smiles after hitting a sacrifice fly to score San Francisco Giants’ Patrick Bailey (14) against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the eighth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants’ Casey Schmitt (10) fields a ground ball against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the ninth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants’ Tyler Rogers (71) pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the ninth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants Joey Lucchesi (57) celebrates after striking out Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani (17) in the seventh inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants’ Patrick Bailey (14) scores from a sacrifice fly by San Francisco Giants’ Rafael Devers (16) against Los Angeles Dodgers in the eighth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)Los Angeles Dodger fans cheer for Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani (17) during a game against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)Former San Francisco Giant Barry Bonds waves to the crowd before a game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)Los Angeles Dodgers’ Dalton Rushing (68) smiles at Los Angeles Dodgers’ Tommy Edman (25) after a foul ball is caught against San Francisco Giants’ Willy Adames (2) in the ninth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)Former San Francisco Giant Barry Bonds waves to the crowd before a game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)Form San Francisco Giants’ Barry Bonds signs autographs before a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts sits next to former San Francisco Giant Barry Bonds before a game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)Show Caption1 of 16San Francisco Giants’ Willy Adames (2) sits after tossing the ball towards second against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)Expand

Following Mike Yastrzemski’s third-inning single off Ohtani, the Giants didn’t have another hit until Patrick Bailey singled off Sheehan with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning. Following Bailey’s single, Yastrzemski walked and Heliot Ramos singled to load the bases. Sheehan’s afternoon was over, and with the Giants trailing, 2-0, left-hander Alex Vesia entered to face the heart of San Francisco’s order.

Rafael Devers trimmed the deficit to 2-1 with a sacrifice fly to deep right-center field, setting the stage for Matt Chapman with runners at the corners and two outs. That one run would be all that San Francisco got as Chapman hit into an inning-ending force out.

That one run would be all that San Francisco got, period.

“We had a couple of chances, and we didn’t come through in those,” said manager Bob Melvin. “We weren’t great early in the game, but you have to give their pitchers some credit. They both pitched pretty well.”

Tom Karwin, On Gardening | Growing succulents in containers

 

Argentine ball (Deuterocohnia brevifolia). This terrestrial succulent forms dense mounds (called pollsters) composed of 1-inch-wide rosettes of sharp-tipped triangular leaves. The leaves have tiny teeth along the margin and are covered with light-reflecting trichome hairs that appear whitish. It’s a member of the bromeliad plant family (Bromeliaceae), and a native of Argentina. The form of its container presents the plant’s well-formed mound. (Courtesy Tom Karwin)Peruvian old man cactus (Espostoa lanata). A wooly coat covers this columnar cactus and hides its ribs and sharp spines. This species is variable in size and spines. In its Peruvian or Ecuadorian habitat, it can grow to 8 inches in diameter and reach heights of up to 23 feet. In a container, however, it grows less vigorously, becomes pot-bound and slows growth to a crawl. The pattern of this specimen’s container reflects the plant’s texture. (Courtesy Tom Karwin)Graptoveria ‘Fred Ives.’ This Mexican succulent, a hybrid of graptopetalum and echeveria, is a member of the stonecrop plant family (Crassulaceae). Due to its mixed parentage, the species forms a diverse, mostly low-growing plant favored for its attractive forms and colors. It produces rosettes in clumps 8 inches tall and 1 foot wide, having bronze and pink succulent leaves on 1-foot stems. In summer, it displays pale yellow flowers with red-orange centers. This blue container and sort of orange rosettes provide complementary colors, creating a vivid contrast. (Courtesy Tom Karwin)Owl eyes cactus (Mammillaria karwinskiana). This small cactus from Mexico has green, spherical stems and spirally arranged tubercles tipped with clusters of spines. The stems can grow solitary or dichotomously, reaching a height of up to 8 inches and a width of 4.8 inches. They develop white tomentum at the apex. The tubercles’ axils have tufts of white hair and long, white bristles. The spines are cream to reddish with a brown tip, becoming chalky white with age. Its white container reflects the white parts of the plant. (Courtesy Tom Karwin)Ruby necklace, little pickles (Crassothonna capensis). This South African species is a low-growing succulent, spreading ground cover with finger-like, blue-grey leaves that are spirally arranged, becoming maroon in full sun or dry conditions. Small, yellow, daisy-like flowers, typical of any flower in the aster family, can appear on long, thin stems throughout the year. Its current container matches the color of the leaves, but the container lacks a drain hole, so we will search for a more appropriate container for this plant. (Courtesy Tom Karwin)Show Caption1 of 5Argentine ball (Deuterocohnia brevifolia). This terrestrial succulent forms dense mounds (called pollsters) composed of 1-inch-wide rosettes of sharp-tipped triangular leaves. The leaves have tiny teeth along the margin and are covered with light-reflecting trichome hairs that appear whitish. It’s a member of the bromeliad plant family (Bromeliaceae), and a native of Argentina. The form of its container presents the plant’s well-formed mound. (Courtesy Tom Karwin)Expand

Succulent plants are defined as plants that have evolved to store moisture in their leaves, stems or roots. They occur within several different plant families in regions of the world’s growing environments with relatively low moisture levels.

Given their diverse botanical origins, succulent plants have a wide range of characteristics, appealing to different aesthetic preferences. See “Advance your gardening knowledge” below for a reference to the diversity of succulents.

Given the harsh conditions of succulent plants’ original habitats, they grow easily in moderate conditions, such as the Monterey Bay area, requiring less trimming, repotting, watering or fertilizing than other plants, both in the garden and in containers.

Because of succulent plants’ appearance and cultivation needs, almost all gardeners find their selected varieties of succulent plants to be appealing as garden subjects.

Succulents in containers

Choose the container: When the plant and container combine aesthetically, the result is a display that “works” in the gardener’s view. Numerous varieties of plant containers and succulent plants exist, so the task of pairing them is a creative challenge. The gardener can begin with either the plant or the container and then search for the other element of the display.

When the gardener begins with the choice of container and favors neutral colors, the options include terra cotta/clay and concrete/stone. Glazed ceramic containers are available in a variety of colors, patterns and textures, and can be uniquely matched with a well-selected succulent plant. Other container options include metal or plastic.

From the horticultural perspective, the container’s diameter should be 1 or 2 inches larger than the plant’s root ball, and, because succulent plants have shallow roots, could be broad and low. In any case, the container should have at least one drainage hole to avoid soggy soil.

Select plant(s) for that container:

Once the gardener has selected an appealing and well-sized container, the next challenge is to choose a succulent plant that complements the container. The search can focus on options that already exist in the garden or are found at a garden center or online. The plant-container match can be based on color, texture or form. The match is primarily a gardener’s individual preference, rather than a set of universal rules.

Still, guidelines can be found online or in garden books. For example, blue-green succulent plants pair well with terra cotta, gray or teal pots. Red- or purple-toned succulents pop against pale or neutral pots. Golden or lime green succulents can work festively with brightly colored glazed ceramic containers. Refer to a color wheel for pairing complementary, monochromatic, analogous, triadic or tetradic color combinations.

Again, when pairing a plant and a container, follow your aesthetic sense, rather than someone else’s rules.

Install plants in soil that drains well:

When installed in a container, succulent plants grow best in soil with excellent drainage. Use a commercially available potting mix or create your own, following a formula of two parts coarse sand or pumice, two parts regular potting soil and one part perlite or lava rock. Succulent plants should be watered only when their soil is dry, typically every one to two weeks in warm weather.

Containers in display

Single succulent plant in a container:

The gardener will want to present a single plant in a container to feature a special plant, fill a small space on a patio or deck, or indoors; establish a prominent location for a large, architectural plant. For example, the front entrance of my home is flanked by two large containers with black rose aeoniums (Aeonium arboreum ‘Zwartkop’).

Plant combinations in a container:

Succulent plants can be grouped successfully in a container. The usual guideline for containerizing plants is “thriller-filler-spiller,” calling for a tall, focal point plant, medium-sized plants to fill space, and cascading or training species to complement the other plants.

In addition to selecting plant sizes, combining succulent plants in a container can be based on plant origin, such as grouping South African succulents, a color combination or contrasting forms or textures. Gardeners specializing in succulent plants can consider many possible ways to combine them in a container.

When planning multiple plants in a single container, ensure that all species have similar water and light needs.

Groups of containers:

A gardener might have an outdoor space large enough for a group of succulent plants in containers. The space could be on a deck, patio, low wall or high wall. Developing a display for such an area allows for creativity with microclimates, elevations and aesthetic themes.

Microclimate needs vary with some succulent plants. While most succulent plants grow best in full sun, some prefer filtered sunlight or partial shade. For examples of such plants, browse epicgardening.com/shade-succulents.

Succulent plant displays in varying heights can benefit from improved visibility. The gardener can create different elevations using plant stands, pedestals, stacked stone blocks or other methods. Trailing plants can be installed in hanging or wall-mounted containers or positioned on the edge of shelves or walls.

When developing a group of containers, an aesthetic theme can provide coherence and interest. For example, plants within a single genus could be grouped by species for comparison. Another grouping theme can be based on a color theme, combining, for example, blue-gray echeveria, silver dudleya, and white aloinopsis.

A group of succulent plants in containers could include three to five containers or another odd number for a cohesive look. They could be placed on rolling caddies to facilitate rearrangements.

My patio features a display of eight large containers filled with different species of mangave. The display includes mostly plants in clay pots, but two are in concrete containers and one is in a black-glazed ceramic container. My slightly obsessive garden projects include repotting three plants into clay containers for consistency and adding a ninth mangave for an odd number of plants.

Advance your gardening knowledge

A valuable resource on this topic is Debra Lee Baldwin’s book, “Succulent Container Gardens: Design Eye-Catching Displays with 350 Easy-Care Plants” (Timber Press, 2010). Baldwin, a prolific expert on gardening with succulent plants, compiled a wide variety of images of containerized succulents, both as individual presentations and group displays in various outdoor residential settings.

Baldwin has also posted over 85 brief videos on this topic. To explore her Succulent Container Gardening playlist on YouTube, visit her website at debraleebaldwin.com/succulent-container-design and scroll to topics of your specific interest.

Baldwin has written other related books: “Succulents Simplified: Growing, Designing, and Crafting with 100 Easy-Care Varieties” (Timber Press, 2013) and “Designing with Succulents” (Timber Press, 2010). The completely revised second edition, “Designing with Succulents” (Timber Press, 2017), includes lists of succulent plants in design categories: tall, treelike and immense; midsize and shrub; small, low-growing and groundcover; variegated with cream, white or yellow; warm-hued leaves; blue, blue-gray or gray leaves; and dramatic blooms.

This week in the garden

If you already have succulent plants in your garden, consider installing one or more in containers for individual or group display. You can also launch a new project to create succulent plants in containers. This activity can serve as an exercise in gardening creativity and provide an appealing presentation.

Enjoy your garden!

Tom Karwin can be reached at gardening@karwin.com.

Looking back: When they closed the beaches, 2020

Pro soccer: Union snaps winless streak

SEASIDE  — Anton Søjberg scored in the 54th minute with an assist from Diego Gutiérrez to give Monterey Bay FC a 2-1 win over visiting Orange County SC on Friday night.

The win snapped the Union’s four-match losing streak. They have 6 wins, 7 loses and 4 ties this season for 22 points in the Western Conference of the United Soccer League Championship. Orange County SC is 5-7-2 with 17 points.

Luke Ivanovic and Grant Robinson combined for the Union’s opening score in the first half. Nico Benalcazar scored for Orange County on an assist from Ousmane Sylla to tie the match in the 51st minute.

It was the Union’s third consecutive victory over Orange County – successfully completing the season sweep over the club from Irvine.

Monterey Bay outshot Orange County 12-7, but Orange County dominated in possession, holding the ball nearly 59% of the match.

Liza Horvath, Senior Advocate: Estate planning with crypto

Question: You probably don’t get a lot of questions about cryptocurrency. It doesn’t seem like many friends my age (very young at 82!) are investing in crypto, but I love it and have made good returns on my investment. My concern is, though, if I lose my mind one day soon and my trustee needs to step in to take care of things, are they going to know how to handle the crypto? What should I do to prepare them?

Answer: You are right! We don’t get frequent questions about cryptocurrency, and I commend you on both venturing into this kind of investment and your “very young at 82” mindset. While I am not endorsing an investment into crypto, some have experienced good results. Although many are investing in crypto, these investors are not generally concerned about their estate planning or of losing their mind “one day soon.” In other words, they do tend to be younger, but I am glad you asked the question.

When investing in crypto, you generally have either a hosted wallet that allows you to access your crypto or a wallet that is self-hosted. Hosted wallets are custodied and controlled by an institutional service provider – think “bank.” The service provider has the ability to grant access to your duly appointed fiduciary (usually your trustee). In fact, the terms of service agreement entered into with such a provider will almost always include information about who your fiduciary is and under what conditions they can grant access.

With a self-hosted wallet, you do not have a service provider, and you are responsible for safeguarding your keys to the wallet. The wallet can be in the form or either software (a hot wallet) or hardware (a cold wallet). Hardware wallets are physical devices designed to store your private keys and are also sometimes referred to as “cold storage.” If the keys or hardware wallet for a self-hosted crypto investment are lost or stolen, you may be able to gain access to your crypto account by using a seed phrase which is 12 to 14 random words generated by the wallet. When these are assigned, you should make a note of them because without them, access to lost currency would be impossible.

When completing your estate plan, you will appoint someone to act as your successor trustee should you become incapacitated or when you die. You can provide your successor trustee with direct access by giving them your credentials for the wallet which would include sharing your password or PIN (personal identification number) and seed phrase. With a hardware wallet, you would advise them of the location of your wallet and where they can find the seed phrase. The only concern here is that if using a hot wallet (software storage of your account) or using a custodian, by giving your trustee this information, they can access your account at any time – even before they step in on your death or incapacity. But, since you named them as your fiduciary, you must have full trust in them so this may not be a true concern. Just be sure your trustee safeguards the information. Again, if credentials are stolen or lost, your investment could be lost, as well.

Within your trust or will document, you would then direct that your cryptocurrency be distributed to a beneficiary and your trustee will pass on the key, credentials or wallet to the beneficiary.

So, what can go wrong? If you and your named fiduciary get into an argument and you decide they are not a good choice, that fiduciary already holds the credentials to your investment. Whether it is a hosted wallet or a self-hosted wallet, you should take immediate action to move the location of your crypto. Again, having the key is like holding a bearer bond. Whoever holds the key or the bearer bond, has full access to the value.

If your fiduciary dies or becomes incapacitated, you will need to name a new fiduciary to step in so you would provide the key or information about the wallet to the new fiduciary. But, if you, yourself, are by then incapacitated, how will this information get to the new trustee? When thinking through our estate planning, we must consider all possible scenarios and, unfortunately, I don’t have the answer to this last scenario. I welcome our readers’ input!

Liza Horvath has over 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. If you have a question call (831) 646-5262 or email liza@montereytrust.com

SF Giants make All-Star case for Tyler Rogers after Misiorowski selection

SAN FRANCISCO — To be clear, Tyler Rogers isn’t complaining.

But, when a reporter interrupted Rogers’ daily crossword in front of his locker in the relievers’ corner of the Giants’ clubhouse Saturday morning, the team’s submarining setup man did want to note one thing. It’s what he has told his managers on a near daily basis since asserting his spot in the backend of the bullpen five years ago.

“I think I’ve been available more than anybody in the league,” he said. “So I’m pretty much available for the All-Star Game.”

No pitcher in the majors has appeared in more games since 2020 than Rogers, and the numbers say the 34-year-old reliever has never been more effective than he has been this season. His 48 appearances once again lead the league, his ERA is a sparkling 1.55 and opponents are batting a meager .193 against him.

And yet, unless something changes in the next couple days, Rogers will merely be enjoying the time off rather than joining teammates Logan Webb, Robbie Ray and fellow bullpen denizen Randy Rodríguez in Atlanta for the 95th Midsummer Classic.

While Rogers didn’t want to advocate for himself because he wasn’t familiar with the selection process, his teammates and coaches were willing to say what he wasn’t.

“In my opinion, he should be on the team,” manager Bob Melvin said.

“I think he’s gotten robbed for a couple years now,” added catcher Patrick Bailey.

Garvin Alston, the Giants’ bullpen coach, took a deep breath and took a moment to gather his thoughts when asked about Rogers’ candidacy.

“I understand what baseball’s doing,” he said. “But to not consider him just because he throws differently, I just turned my eyebrow a little bit. Ty Rogers is unbelievable. He’s Mr. Consistency. We rely on him. We love him. To me, it’s a little disappointing he hasn’t gotten a call.”

Melvin advocated for Rogers to get the nod when it became clear Ray would be unavailable to pitch in the game, but Mets starter David Peterson was named as Ray’s replacement instead. When Phillies ace Zach Wheeler pulled out, the spot went to another reliever, but not Rogers: Adrian Morejon, the third member of the Padres bullpen to make the National League roster.

The apparent oversights had already caught the attention of those inside and out of the Giants clubhouse, but the controversy only gained steam when it came time to fill the spot of Matthew Boyd, the former Giants starter who put together an All-Star campaign with the Cubs.

In Boyd’s place, the league office selected Jacob Misiorowski, the Brewers’ 23-year-old right-hander with only five career starts to his name. While Misiorowski regularly reaches triple digits on the radar gun and was considered one of the top pitching prospects in baseball, there has never been an All-Star with a shorter résumé.

“It comes down to numbers, and (Rogers) puts them up, so I’m a little surprised to see some of the other guys make the team that haven’t even been here for half a year,” Melvin said, without naming names.

Misiorowski broke the record set by Paul Skenes, another flamethrower with more hype than track record at the time who was named to the team last year after 11 starts.

“I understand wanting to bring youth into the game, but to an extent,” Ray said. “You’ve got to give recognition to the guys that have done it year in and year out. Skenes was a little bit different too because the hype was real. He was kind of dominating every start, so that one made a little more sense.”

Misiorowski has a 2.81 ERA, 33 strikeouts and 11 walks in 25⅔ innings — 20 fewer frames than Rogers has taken down out of the Giants’ bullpen.

“Obviously I’ve got nothing against the guy from Milwaukee that made it,” Bailey said. “But a guy who’s got five or six years in the big leagues of All-Star caliber seasons, and multiple years not getting (selected), I think that’s pretty messed up that Rog doesn’t get that opportunity.”

The selection prompted more outrage from the Phillies’ clubhouse, where Trea Turner told reporters it was a “joke” and Nick Castellanos compared the priority on entertainment value over recognition to the Savannah Bananas.

Misiorowski, a second-round pick and the Brewers’ No. 4 prospect according to MLB.com, doesn’t carry the same pedigree that Skenes did. But he does provide the kind of octane that teams covet and the league believes fans want to see, averaging 99.3 mph with his four-seam fastball.

Rogers, with his mound-scraping motion, mid-80s fastball and frisbee-esque slider, offers a look that even fewer fans get to see.

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“I don’t think the fans appreciate him enough and how he does it,” Alston said of Rogers. “This day and age it’s all about how far you can hit it and how hard you can throw it. I think he gets lost in the mix of it.”

The Phillies’ complaints had to do with their own pair of seemingly deserving starters, Cristopher Sánchez and Ranger Suárez, not being selected. But Sanchez, like Ray, is scheduled to pitch Sunday and wasn’t believed to be available, though his agent later disputed that he had declined an invitation.

For Rogers, at least, availability isn’t a concern.

“I just don’t understand,” Alston said. “I think it’s just because he throws differently and he’s not a velo guy.”

Leadership of Carmel schools superintendent questioned

A group of Carmel parents have called for school district Superintendent Sharon Ofek to be placed on administrative leave while a third-party probe looks into allegations made in a lawsuit by a former Carmel Unified School District principal against Ofek.

It is one of multiple active lawsuits pointed out by the group that they say have called into question Ofek’s leadership in the district.

There is also an active lawsuit against Chief HR Officer Craig Chavez made by a district employee currently on a medical leave of absence. The employee is not identified in the suit, but is referred to as Jane Doe.

Carmel Unified School District Superintendent Sharon Ofek. (YouTube)

“When I first took on this role as superintendent, I knew it would be challenging, as the district had been repeatedly entangled in lawsuits,” said Ofek in a prepared statement. “However, I am deeply concerned that some individuals are misleading the public by attaching my name to lawsuits regarding alleged activities that took place before I even began my tenure. This misinterpretation distracts from the real work at hand – educating all our students so they can thrive and succeed in and beyond the classroom.”

Ofek was appointed in January 2024 after serving as acting superintendent for nearly a year following the resignation of her predecessor Ted Knight, who was accused of mishandling personnel matters. The district approved a $770,000 separation agreement with Knight, the district’s fifth superintendent in eight years.

A petition created in May has gathered over 130 signatures from Carmel community members urging the district place Ofek on leave while an investigation takes place. The petition alleges a pattern of “serious leadership failures” including multiple lawsuits dating as far back as 2023, a federal civil rights violation and declining enrollment. The district currently has just over 2,100 students.

Alberto Ramirez

Former Carmel River Elementary School Principal Alberto Ramirez filed a lawsuit on April 17 alleging the reason he was not rehired by Ofek was retaliatory and that he was subject to discrimination and harassment. Ramirez had been in his position since fall 2023, after former Principal Jay Marden retired.

Ramirez’ lawyer, Michael Welch, declined to comment, saying their allegations are clear and laid out in the lawsuit.

The lawsuit claims Ofek pressured Ramirez, a teacher for 17 years and former teacher’s union representative, into supporting her bid for superintendent by urging him to write a letter to the Board of Education advocating for her to be elevated from acting superintendent into the permanent position.

“Still new in his job, and not wanting to risk retribution from his direct superior,” Ramirez sent the letter, according to the lawsuit.

On multiple instances, alleges the lawsuit, Ramirez and Ofek clashed after the former principal voiced concerns regarding the behavior of a physical education teacher toward students as well as the treatment of district teachers having to do with their workload and benefits.

“Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereon alleges, that both his witnessing of alleged violation of rights and protections of CUSD teachers, and/or advocacy for such teachers, put him in conflict with the authority and agenda of Ofek and CUSD,” reads the lawsuit.

The district denies the allegations and says it cannot go into detail regarding why Ramirez was not rehired, according to a statement by its legal counsel. The district felt it had legitimate reasons to end his employment and was within its rights to do so since Ramirez was a probationary employee, according to the statement.

“The district strongly disputes the allegations of wrongdoing and plans on vigorously defending itself in court,” reads the statement.

On the last day of the 2023-24 school year, Ofek notified Ramirez she would not be rehiring him for the following year. Ramirez had never been notified of concerns about his job performance or conduct, only having received positive feedback, said the lawsuit.

Jane Doe

Jane Doe’s lawsuit was filed on May 19 by a current Carmel Unified receptionist and human resources assistant. Jane Doe, who is described in the suit as an African American woman, alleges she and other employees have been racially discriminated against by Chavez and their concerns have been overlooked by Ofek.

An employee since July 2023, Doe’s first formal complaint was made in December 2023, describing “racially offensive and uncomfortable treatment” by a parent in the district office. A week after the incident was reported, Ofek responded and told Jane Doe that Chavez would follow up with strategies should another instance occur in the future. Chavez allegedly did not follow up with Jane Doe.

The lawsuit also outlines multiple occasions where Doe and other Black employees described feeling discriminated against, including when Chavez allegedly accused a Black employee of stealing from the administration office’s staff-only area and subsequently changing the locks on interior office doors.

Chavez also allegedly expressed objections to a T-shirt Jane Doe wore to work while school was not in session. The shirt had the phrase “Black girl magic” written on the front.

On May 5, following more alleged instances of discrimination and bullying, Doe filed a formal complaint to Ofek and the district reporting she was being discriminated against by Chavez. In the complaint, Doe wrote “I do not feel safe.”

Ofek responded to the complaint, saying the district would review the complaint pursuant to district policy and an investigator would be secured.

“To date, no one has contacted (Doe) to confirm that an independent investigator has been appointed to investigate her complaint,” according to the lawsuit.

The law firm representing Jane Doe, Salinas-based Fitzpatrick & Swanston, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Fitzpatrick & Swanston previously represented three women who filed sexual harassment lawsuits against the district in 2023 – Chavez was the “common denominator” in all three cases by “not doing his job,” said plaintiff lawyer James Fitzpatrick at the time.

The district’s legal counsel said in a prepared statement it will be filing an answer to Jane Doe’s lawsuit and denying the allegations. The district will be asserting “applicable affirmative defenses,” which are legal arguments raised by the defense to defeat or mitigate a claim. These defenses can often include self-defense or the statute of limitations.

The petition circulating in the community specifically points out the Ramirez and Jane Doe lawsuits as well as perceived financial mismanagement as “a troubling picture of a district in crisis, where student and staff safety have been repeatedly compromised under Superintendent Ofek’s leadership.”

“I refuse to let a few detractors shift the focus away from our students and the incredible progress we are making as a District,” said Ofek’s statement. “…No matter who holds this position – whether it’s me, my predecessors or my successors – the positives outweigh any negatives, which are largely remnants of old ways of thinking.”

PHOTO: Break from the fog with the dogs

Horoscopes July 11, 2025: Lisa Rinna, keep your finances in order

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Justin Chambers, 55; Lisa Rinna, 62; Richie Sambora, 66; Sela Ward, 69.

Happy Birthday: Keep your finances in order, and you’ll gain ground. Investing in yourself will pay off and help you achieve security and personal stability. Take the initiative, update your resume or relocate to reduce overhead. Stop thinking about all the possibilities and start doing something that alleviates discord and unnecessary pressure. Your enthusiasm and drive will pay off if you act fast and keep the momentum flowing. Your numbers are 7, 10, 19, 27, 32, 35, 48.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Balance the budget before committing to home improvements, moves or anything that may jeopardize you financially. Rethink how you earn a living and consider how you can use your skills, experience and talent to bring in more cash and put a long-term plan in place that diminishes anxiety and stress. 2 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Refrain from starting something you cannot finish. Spend time gathering information to help you reach your goals; stop spinning your wheels. Listen, but be sure to fact-check to avoid being led astray by someone trying to exploit you. Do the legwork and set your sights on what’s doable. 5 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Take your time, gather information and stick to basics. Too much, too fast will lead to undue expense and worry. When someone applies pressure, know enough to back away. Let your charm lead the way, and you’ll find it easier to keep anyone from trying to manipulate you. Put yourself first. 3 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Focus on your objective, and don’t stop until you finish. The outcome will be satisfying and help you initiate outside interest. Dedication and determination will encourage you to save for something that can improve your life. Believe in yourself. Network, promote and market who you are and what you have to offer. 3 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Consider what others can contribute, and incorporate fresh ideas into your plans. Set a budget before you begin. Social and networking events will motivate you to start something new. Put more thought and time into investments that allow you to use your gifts to earn extra cash. Avoid health or financial risks. 3 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Listen carefully. Refuse to let changes others make tempt you to follow. Gather information, watch their progress and learn from their pitfalls and failures. Attend functions that connect you to people who can offer insight into something you want to pursue. Be cautious when dealing with affairs of the heart. Avoid premature assessments. 5 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Emotional energy will require direction. Motivate yourself to tidy up or move things around at home to encourage a healthier routine and schedule. Keeping your eye on expenditures and essentials will help you make better choices. Too much of anything will require adjustments. When you have too much stuff, pay it forward. 2 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Conversations that bring about change may not be easy, but the results will enhance your life. Line up your preferences and set a course that can carry you to victory. Attend events that allow you to converse with people with experience, and you’ll find shortcuts that help you reach your goals. 2 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Let your intuition take over. If you move too quickly, you’ll face unexpected pitfalls that delay your timing. A positive attitude will draw attention. Be careful not to let anyone take advantage of your willingness to please. Tuck your money in a safe place and refuse to pay for someone else’s mistakes. 4 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Question everything when money and work are the topics of your conversation. It’s essential to know your worth and to market yourself accordingly. Reset your plans, review your investments and options, and map out a plan to get you where you want to go. A partnership will have ups and downs. Proceed with caution. 3 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Focus on home improvements. Consider what you feel passionate about and start to make changes at home or to yourself that will give you a new lease on life. Direct your energy into looking and feeling your best and discussing what you want with someone who can help you achieve your dreams. 3 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Do what works for you, regardless of what others choose. Social events, self-improvement projects and meaningful relationships will make you feel complete. Temptation is your downfall; take the route that leads to stability and security instead. Be careful; avoid jeopardizing your health or physical well-being. Choose charm over complaints. 3 stars

Birthday Baby: You are accommodating, caring and enthusiastic. You are innovative and witty.

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

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