SF Giants Press Clips Friday, July 21, 2017

Transcription

1 SF Giants Press Clips Friday, July 21, 2017 San Francisco Chronicle Giants fall to Padres, Madison Bumgarner still winless John Shea If somebody had suggested in spring training that Madison Bumgarner wouldn t have a win through July 20, that same somebody also could have projected a lost season. Both have become reality. Bumgarner has made six starts, four before his dirt-bike accident and two after. He s winless, and so are the Giants on his watch. On Thursday night, Bumgarner made his first home start since April 13, and his win-loss column continues to trend the wrong way. The lefty gave up two more home runs, and the Giants were beaten 5-2 by the Padres. We re not winning ballgames right now. We ve got to start doing that, said Bumgarner, his team dropping 15 of 20 to the Padres since last year s All-Star break. There s no magic solution to it, I don t think. We ve just got to start playing better, all of us. Bumgarner s final pitch was a fastball to Cory Spangenberg, who smashed it to the deepest part of AT&T Park, a 428-foot drive to right-center for a two-run homer that was the decisive blow. It was the fourth homer Bumgarner yielded in two starts since coming off the disabled list. On the first three, his curveball haunted him. Jabari Blash and Matt Szczur hit curves for homers Saturday in San Diego, and Hunter Renfroe did it Thursday, a two-run shot in the second. All seven runs Bumgarner surrendered in the two starts came courtesy of homers, the first time in his career he gave up multiple homers in consecutive starts in the same season. I ve got to stop giving up home runs, he said. It s not going to work. Catcher Buster Posey called the fateful curves a little more flat than normal. Bumgarner said he isn t feeling much different throwing the pitch other than a possible command issue. For whatever reason, he said, it hasn t worked the last two starts. Bumgarner was pulled one out into the seventh inning after his 97th pitch and fell to 0-4 with a 3.57 ERA. He hasn t had a season ERA north of 3.00 since 2012.

2 Not that he has received much offensive support just 10 runs in six starts, and two of those runs came on Bumgarner homers on Opening Day. He gave up one run in Kansas City in a 2-0 loss and would have won the opener if not for a Mark Melancon blown save. They re solid outings, manager Bruce Bochy said of Bumgarner s recent work. We ve just to go find a way to score a few more runs. It s encouraging that he s healthy and throwing the ball very well.... He s still working on some things. Nothing is at stake for the Giants except pride and building for the future, so the numbers no longer mean much in the grand scheme of a last-place season. More important for Bumgarner is to create momentum for For others, it s about counting down the days to the trade deadline (July 31). Third baseman Eduardo Nuñez is a likely candidate to be dealt, considering he ll be a free agent after the season and Christian Arroyo is the third baseman of the future. The Red Sox, the team that dumped Pablo Sandoval, who s supposed to sign a minor-league deal with the Giants on Friday, are among teams interested in Nuñez, who has been slowed by a hamstring ailment but looked fine Thursday. He collected two hits, including a single that tied the game 2-2 in the sixth, and made no fewer than five splendid defensive plays to limit the damage inflicted by the Padres. San Francisco Chronicle Giants players say they would welcome back Pablo Sandoval John Shea Yes, words were said. Yes, Pablo Sandoval seemed to have an exit strategy before, during and after the 2014 World Series parade, even when telling reporters in the green room at City Hall, I want to wear that jersey the rest of my career. Yes, Sandoval was quoted after signing with Boston as saying the only Giants he d miss were Bruce Bochy and Hunter Pence. And, yes, the Panda is close to becoming a Giant again. If you can help the team win, that s what this is about, catcher Buster Posey said. It doesn t really matter what s been said in the past if you can contribute and help the team win, whether it s Pablo or somebody else. That s what it s about. It was an odd vibe hours before Madison Bumgarner s first pitch Thursday night as players were asked to respond to the news about an old teammate who bolted the Giants, became a $95 million bust in Boston and is on the verge of returning to San Francisco.

3 Sandoval reportedly will sign a minor-league contract once he clears waivers Friday and becomes a free agent. The plan would be for him to report to Triple-A Sacramento. If he returns to the majors, the Giants would pay only the prorated portion of the minimum salary, with the Red Sox picking up the rest. I hope he comes and rakes, and we win the World Series, first baseman Brandon Belt said. That is not a lie. Some answers were guarded, others weren t. Pence seemed the most pumped about a Sandoval return. I think it s exciting, the right fielder said. He s done so many amazing things here. He s always been one of those personalities that fits in with the Giants and the Bay Area. I ve always enjoyed Pablo. I m very grateful for the time we played together and the wonderful things he s done in clutch situations. I enjoyed his playful, creative spirit. The Sandoval news broke the same week the Giants announced the official end of their sellout streak. This could partly be a marketing decision. This could be a goodwill gesture. This could be a favor. In any event, reliever George Kontos said he thinks fans would welcome Sandoval back, and not just because they d be able to dust off their panda hats. I think a lot of focus has been put on the small event of him choosing somewhere else to go rather than signing back here, Kontos said, but if he were to show up with a Giants uniform on and play for this ballclub again, I think it would be just like it was in the past. As for the players? If he walked in this clubhouse, I think he d be welcomed with open arms, Kontos said. This organization is a loyal organization. They don t forget guys who helped them out in the past, so the possibility of him coming back wouldn t surprise me that much. There s this little issue of whether Sandoval can still play. He had little to show in his third season with the Red Sox, hitting.212 with a.269 on-base percentage, four homers and 12 RBIs in 32 games. He was a defensive liability and his conditioning continued to be suspect. It s our job to go out and perform, Posey said. If the front office thinks there s somebody who can help us, I don t think as players we get wrapped up in that. We ve got enough to worry about. By the way, someone told Bochy the Dodgers designated Sergio Romo for assignment, and the manager joked that Romo would be the next former Giant to come back. San Francisco Chronicle Pablo Sandoval s return a bit of a puzzler Bruce Jenkins As ridiculous as it sounds, the sight of Pablo Sandoval in a Giants uniform won t be such a bad thing. A lot of nice memories will come flooding back, he ll be wearing a smile, and fans with a romantic s bent will be free to let their imagination take flight. Still, the question must be asked, with the Giants about to sign Sandoval to a minor-league deal: Why?

4 Have they no dignity? No self-respect? Is the season so far gone that they turn to the junk pile? Who in his or her right mind would expect anything close to the vintage Sandoval to show up? A career revival is not entirely out of the question. He s only 30 years old, and he has shown the ability to drop considerable weight when he felt his career was in jeopardy. The man is a genius ballplayer with great hands and the ability to hit any pitch with authority, once clubbing one after it had taken a hop in front of the plate. When you talk about the great bad-ball hitters of modern times, you include Sandoval with the likes of Vladimir Guerrero, Yogi Berra, Manny Sanguillen and (what the heck) Jesus Alou, to mention a few. Well, check that: Sandoval was a genius ballplayer. He hasn t been that man since he left the Giants after the 2014 season, and even then, there were signs of regression. When the Boston Red Sox outbid the Giants for his services, the general feeling around AT&T Park was that the Giants got the best of him, never to be haunted by whatever took place in the American League. It played out just that way. Once a dynamic switch-hitter, batting.379 with a.600 slugging percentage from the right-handed side in 2009, Sandoval went 2-for-41 hitting right-handed two years ago and began hitting strictly left-handed (good luck trying to employ Sandoval against the Dodgers, with their overload of lefty starters). His defense in Boston was often suspect, as well. The strange part was Sandoval s bitter farewell to the organization that brought him three championship rings. On his way out, he ripped the front office (senselessly; the front-office negotiations were right on point) and his teammates, saying his only friends on the club were Hunter Pence and manager Bruce Bochy. That was just an outright lie, although a lot of players knew he wasn t always the happy-go-lucky guy he presented to the public. When the Giants beat writers surveyed the clubhouse to gauge the reaction to this week s news, they didn t exactly witness a celebration. A number of players seemed baffled by the notion. It s not as if the Giants are riding out the season with Nolan Arenado or Manny Machado at third base. It s a mix-and-match conglomerate of Eduardo Nuñez (perhaps soon to be traded), Conor Gillaspie, Ryder Jones and Jae-gyun Hwang, none of whom strikes the impression of permanence. But that s where Christian Arroyo comes in. The Giants know he can hit. After an explosive start, Arroyo looked overmatched by big-league breaking pitches, slumped badly, and twice got injured in the minor leagues. But he was extremely sharp defensively, undaunted by even the most difficult plays, and most everyone believes he will hit eventually, enough to take over third base by himself next season and beyond. So why Sandoval? To jack up the attendance in a season that brought an end to the team s sellout streak? Perhaps a few fans will dust off the Panda hats and dream of better times. The sheer novelty of his presence might bring out a few fans. But if any excitement even exists, it could wear off quickly and for heaven s sake, the Giants don t have an attendance problem. Two days after that streak ended, with the team 29½ games out of first place, the Giants drew 41,067 for a weekday game against Cleveland.

5 The Chronicle s Henry Schulman has become accustomed to caustic comments from the Giants fans, but the response to the Sandoval signing move was on a different level, he wrote on Twitter. I ve never seen so much antipathy. Apparently, someone thinks it s worth a shot. What a defining moment in a season that defies explanation. San Jose Mercury News Giants encouraged by Madison Bumgarner, but remain winless in his starts Andrew Baggarly SAN FRANCISCO The Giants season didn t die on opening day, when Madison Bumgarner combined a quality start with a two-homer performance for the ages and yet the bullpen blew it all at Arizona. But here is a sure way to sniff the putrefaction: It s late July, and the Giants still haven t won a Bumgarner start. They tried and failed again Thursday night in a 5-2 loss to the San Diego Padres a team full of rebuilding parts and Rule 5 draftees that have been remarkably effective at keeping the Giants in last place. The Giants have lost 15 of 20 games to the Padres since last year s All-Star Game. Bumgarner, asked for any explanation, offered little insight. I don t know, Bumgarner said. We re not winning ballgames now, and we ve got to start doing it. There s no magic to it. The Giants hoped that getting back Bumgarner three months after his dirt bike accident would imbue the team with confidence and restore some of their swagger. It s been the same Bumgarner. It s also been the same team. Hunter Renfroe hit a two-run home run in the second inning, and after the Giants rallied to tie in the sixth, Cory Spangenberg took Bumgarner deep for a two-run shot in the seventh. That s his last hitter there, and the ball left the ballpark, Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. It was similar to his last game. The numbers don t look as good, but he threw the ball well. They re solid outings. We ve just got to score a few more runs for him. The Giants have scored 10 runs for Bumgarner in his six starts. That part shouldn t be a surprise from one of baseball s least productive lineups. At least Bumgarner appears to be throwing with the same arm action and delivery as he did before he separated his shoulder in an April 20 dirt bike accident an injury that forced him to miss three months. No matter what the Giants do to address the lineup this offseason, a healthy Bumgarner is crucial to any hopes of being a contender in 2018.

6 I really felt good both times, Bumgarner said. I really felt better than what the box score says. That s what is most frustrating. Bumgarner has pitched 13 innings over his two starts against the Padres since returning from the disabled list and all seven runs allowed have come on home runs. Oddly enough, the Padres hit three of their four home runs on curveballs. Bumgarner didn t give up a single homer on that pitch last season. Honestly, I don t feel it s much different, said Bumgarner, who threw five curves Thursday and watched two leave the yard. For whatever reason, it hasn t worked the last two starts. It would be unfair to expect Bumgarner to be in midseason form, for all the time he s missed. Still, it s remarkable that his fastball is peaking at over 92 mph and he hasn t appeared to lose steam while approaching 100 pitches. It s encouraging he s healthy (but) he s still working on some things, said Bochy, remarking on the four home runs allowed. Bumgarner has pitched well enough to win. But the Giants could do next to nothing against Jhoulys Chacin, who might be pitching his way into a trade to a contender. He s been tough on us, and I m not just talking about this year, Bochy said. Next to (Clayton) Kershaw, I don t know who s tougher on us. San Jose Mercury News Hunter Pence remains homerless at AT&T Park, Padres flex muscles against Bumgarner Andrew Baggarly SAN FRANCISCO The thought of Pablo Sandoval returning to the Giants might be offensive to some fans. But here is something else to make the bile rise in your throat: Hunter Pence hasn t hit a home run at AT&T Park all season. And unlike Sandoval, who appears poised to return at virtually no cost, the Giants are stuck paying Pence s freight. He is looking like an $18 million albatross on next year s payroll. Pence has said nothing to cause mild revulsion among the people. He remains a popular player, even if his relentless power of positive thinking is falling on tin ears in this drag of a season one that got a bit worse Thursday night in a 5-2 loss to the San Diego Padres. But Pence was supposed to be the Giants chief source of right-handed power. And he entered Thursday night with six home runs and a.638 OPS. He hit the top of the ball while chopping his way into three outs and hit a single off the end of his bat Thursday night. Instead, the Padres supplied the power against Madison Bumgarner. Hunter Renfroe hit a two-run home run in the second inning, and after the Giants rallied to tie in the sixth, Cory Spangenberg hit a two-run shot in the seventh.

7 Spangenberg s homer knocked Bumgarner from the game and managed to go out even though he hit it to the deepest part of right-center field and through the blustery breeze a feat of strength that is seldom seen in a night game here, and the kind of contact that Pence once provided. It was Bumgarner s first start at home and his second overall since he separated his left shoulder in a dirt bike accident on April 20. The home crowd did not issue any semblance of a scolding. The fans greeted him with the usual, appreciative cheers and even provided a partial standing ovation as he walked off the mound. This is a forgiving bunch unless you spurn the Giants to sign with another club, and then badmouth the organization on your way out the door. That s what Sandoval did after catching the final out of the 2014 World Series, when he took $90 million from the Boston Red Sox and said the only people he would miss were Pence and Manager Bruce Bochy. The contract was an utter failure, and the Red Sox will eat almost $50 million once Sandoval clears release waivers on Friday afternoon. The Giants cannot make any official announcements on Sandoval until after he clears waivers. Even if their understanding on a minor league contract results in a deal, there s no guarantee the Panda will be proficient enough in the minor leagues to warrant a place on the big league roster this season. It s a coin flip, maybe, whether Sandoval actually plays another game as a Giant. The Giants never really replaced Sandoval s production against right-handed pitching and the power threat he posed even when an opposing pitcher attempted to tread carefully or get him to chase stuff out of the zone. Then again, Pence brought many of the same attributes to the table. And the Giants basically haven t had that player since 2014, either. After appearing in all 162 games in 2013 and 14, a fractured forearm and then hamstring issues limited Pence to just 158 games over the next two seasons combined. Pence also missed 20 games on the disabled list this year when his hamstring acted up. But it s been even more painful to watch the 34-year-old foul off fastballs down the middle and wave at pitches outside the zone. Pence entered Thursday with a.145 average in 55 at-bats in July. Of his six home runs, two were clutch shots in the late innings at Coors Field. In his favor, he was batting.309 in 68 at-bats with runners in scoring position. But in a left-leaning lineup with Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford, Denard Span and Joe Panik, the lack of another right-handed power hitter has proven crippling to the Giants this season. The Giants knew that Pence might not remain a productive player to the end of his $90 million extension. Unorthodox players often do not age well, and Pence is as unorthodox as they come. They won t begrudge him his salary next season. It s another investment of 500-plus at-bats that might be tougher to justify, or to take away. Pence, either to his credit or detriment depending on your point of view, hasn t changed. He remains the same upbeat and optimistic presence in the clubhouse. He was the only player to react to the

8 Sandoval news with anything beyond tacit approval, even challenging a report that the move would be unpopular within the clubhouse. I think it s exciting. He s done so many amazing things here, Pence said. He s always been one of those personalities that kind of fits in with the Giants and the Bay Area. I know there s been all sorts of stuff I haven t listened or heard all of it but I ve always enjoyed Pablo. I m very grateful for the times that we played together and the remarkable things he s done in clutch situations. I enjoyed his playful creative spirit. Who knows? There s been just a great bond between him and this city and what he s done here for the most part. I think a lot of people have fond memories of him. The Giants are and have lost 15 of their last 20 games to the lowly Padres, and it isn t because Pence hasn t aged well or because Bumgarner went dirt biking on a day off.. It takes a multitude of failures for a team to be 29 ½ games out of first place in late July. The Giants might subtract one of their more productive players in the days leading up to the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline. Third baseman Eduardo Nuñez returned to the lineup a day after sitting out as a precaution because of his tight left hamstring. He speared a line drive at third base, hit a tying single in the sixth and showed good wheels when he had third base stolen before over-sliding the base. Bumgarner is 0-4. The Giants are winless in his six starts this season. That s right. It s late July. The Giants still haven t won a Bumgarner start. That s almost as unbelievable as Pence still lacking a home run on the shores of McCovey Cove. San Jose Mercury News Could the Giants bring back Sergio Romo, too? Andrew Baggarly SAN FRANCISCO One day after reports broke that the Giants would renew a relationship with Pablo Sandoval, another of their former World Series heroes shook loose. The Dodgers designated right-hander Sergio Romo for assignment on Thursday. Romo, 34, had a 6.12 ERA in 30 appearances and had barely pitched for the Dodgers this month. The NL West leaders needed his roster spot to add left-hander Grant Dayton to the bullpen. Like Sandoval, Romo was more tolerated than respected in many corners of the Giants clubhouse by the end of his tenure. But Romo did not badmouth anyone on the way out, even while signing a $3 million contract to join their archrival, instead expressing that his first desire was to stay and that he d always be grateful to fans for their support here. Could Romo come back, too? Don t think so.

9 There s a reason the Giants didn t re-sign Romo after last season, though. His performance had slipped against right-handed hitters, and he cackled on the mound a few times as he handed over the baseball to Manager Bruce Bochy. He was a key part of a bullpen that blew a franchise-record 32 saves, and management determined that it was time to set a new course. The Giants biggest need in that bullpen at present is from the left side, where Steven Okert and Josh Osich have both struggled to establish themselves. Betting on a 30-year-old like Sandoval who is willing to go to the minors and might have some remaining skills against right-handed pitching? Sure. Betting on Romo becoming a lockdown presence for them late in games again? Probably not. It s not as if the Giants are trying to reassemble all their former World Series players. They could ve brought back Angel Pagan at any time this season. Even with their outfield crumbling into oblivion, they didn t do it. None of this is meant to detract from what Romo accomplished as a Giant and the legacy that he created. This is a guy who pitched as fearlessly as anyone who ever wore a Giants uniform. He not only threw the final pitch in a World Series clincher, but it was a ballsy two-seamer that completely fooled Miguel Cabrera in a year that Cabrera won the Triple Crown in the American League. Not bad for a 5-foot-nothing kid with an impossible Frisbee slider who bounced from Brawley to junior colleges in Yuma and Grand Junction to the University of North Alabama before he found an organization that believed in him as much as he believed in himself. San Jose Mercury News Pence, Posey weigh in: Would Giants welcome back Pablo Sandoval? Andrew Baggarly SAN FRANCISCO The day could come this season when Pablo Sandoval walks into the Giants clubhouse and sets down his equipment bag. Lord knows he has more baggage than his bats and workout clothes. How would Sandoval be received by his former teammates? With open arms? With guarded greetings? With bygones or burned bridges? This much is clear: It s a reunion that will require more diplomacy in some corners than others. Sandoval and the Giants have an understanding on a minor league contract, according to multiple reports. The club cannot make any official comment until the former Red Sox third baseman clears release waivers on Friday. Hypothetically, though Others, including Buster Posey and Brandon Belt, were more measured in their comments. We ll welcome anybody who can help us win games, Posey said. It s as simple as that. That s what it s about. It doesn t matter who it is. If there s somebody who can contribute and help us win games then yeah, you should be here. That s ultimately what it boils down to. It s that simple.

10 Said Belt: I hope he comes and rakes and we win another World Series. That is not a lie. Does that mean Sandoval would be welcomed back to a clubhouse that he left with a harrumph, saying the only people he missed were Pence and Manager Bruce Bochy? I m sure, yes, Belt said. I just want to win. If he s a key to that, let s do it. Pence took issue with a report that the clubhouse would not be in favor of a reunion with Sandoval, even if his glowing comments about the Panda were not exactly echoed by others within the room. I think it s exciting. He s done so many amazing things here, Pence said. He s always been one of those personalities that kind of fits in with the Giants and the Bay Area. I know there s been all sorts of stuff I haven t listened or heard all of it but I ve always enjoyed Pablo. I m very grateful for the times that we played together and the remarkable things he s done in clutch situations. I enjoyed his playful creative spirit. Who knows? There s been just a great bond between him and this city and what he s done here for the most part. I think a lot of people have fond memories of him. It s not as if Sandoval will be on the roster in a week or the Giants are carving out their everyday third base job for him. He s reportedly willing to sign a minor league contract and prove himself at Triple-A Sacramento, with no promises or guarantees. If nothing else, maybe providing a landing spot this season and a chance to play will be a gesture that helps to improve future relations between the Giants and Sandoval. We all know the importance this organization places on its relationship with its former stars. They want them to be a part of future reunions and celebrations, etc. As dire as this season has been, the Giants have to be open minded to anything that could improve their talent inventory they took Sam Dyson off the scrap heap from Texas, and he s currently serving as their closer and Sandoval amounts to a virtually no-risk signing. The Red Sox are on the hook for the roughly $49.5 million still owed to Sandoval. The Giants wouldn t even have to pay him a prorated portion of the major league minimum salary ($535,000) while he is in the minors. Besides, the organization finds itself especially light on position players at Sacramento due to call-ups and injuries. It s possible that the Giants wouldn t have considered Sandoval if top prospect Christian Arroyo weren t out for two months with a fractured hand. If the Giants trade Eduardo Nuñez as expected, they ll have to figure out how to split time at third base. Do they want to see more of Jae-gyun Hwang, Conor Gillaspie or Ryder Jones? There isn t a clear answer there. Into that void, then: Sandoval. When you are desperate for options, you let bygones be bygones.

11 If you help the team win, that s what this is about, Posey said. It doesn t matter what s been said in the past. If you can contribute and help the team win, whether it s Pablo or anyone else, that s what it s about. San Jose Mercury News Steward: Giants reunion with Sandoval laughable at any price Carl Steward There appears to be two distinct threads of opinion on Pablo Sandoval s impending return to the Giants organization. From one faction, the folks wearing the funny hats, the nostalgic Yesssss!!! From the other faction, the people wearing the frantic frowns, the more realistic Noooooo!!!!!!!!! Say what you will about Sandoval, but he does not engender ambivalence among Giants fans. But the no crowd is definitely larger, and providing more exclamation points to their shrieks upon this jarring but not altogether unexpected news. Forget the minimal cost of a minor-league contract. Forget the low-risk allure that there might still be some old magic in that rotund frame that can only come out in San Francisco. At any price, they believe, this is a mistake. Most Giants fans just don t want to play this hunch at all, because they understand all the old headaches are more likely to resurface than the old magic. And they re right to think that. But beyond just that, it s just an embarrassing move for the club. It looks bad. Horrible, in fact. If the Giants were playing good baseball and dealing from a position of strength, you could maybe see putting this random-number chip on the roulette table and giving the wheel a spin, if for no other reason than giving Pablo a final fling after all the good things he did for the Giants way back when. But bringing Sandoval back into the picture when you re nearly 30 games out of first place seems incredibly ill-timed, lame and laughable. Headline: Desperate franchise signs desperate but familiar old player. That s how it ll play in L.A., anyway with mirth. While the Dodgers continue to get younger, deeper, stronger and better, the Giants are doing this? Bwahahaha. They might as well go out and find Tim Lincecum and Marco Scutaro, too, just plunge all the way into the portals of the past. Look, these kinds of reunions never work in pro sports. Name one (other than Michael Jordan) that ever has, particularly with a player who trashed the organization on his way out the door in 2014, even though that organization made him roughly the same offer that the Boston Red Sox did. He spurned it, then burned it. He said that his only friends on the team were Bruce Bochy and Hunter Pence. He said Brian Sabean disrespected his agent. He said a lot of stupid things that he s never really recanted. With that in mind, you can t just pick up at the point of Sandoval making that catch in foul ground that ended the 2014 World Series and theorize the Giants could catch lightning in a bottle at a low price. Too much bad blood was spilled after that grand moment. Plus, the price you pay for your franchise s competitive credibility could be steep, even at the investment of mere penny rolls.

12 Sure, the Giants have an issue at third base right now. Eduardo Nunez is on the trading block. The prospects who be could playing there, Christian Arroyo and Ryder Jones, are hurt. There doesn t seem to be any real belief that their Korean import, Jae-Gyun Hwang, could be a long-term answer. That leaves Conor Gillaspie. But therein lies the ridiculousness of this Pablo pursuit: In truth, Gillaspie might be a better option at this point. He s younger, for one. At this stage of their respective careers, he s probably a better hitter, too. And nobody has to get on Gillaspie about his pounds, other than maybe to ask him to add some. Sandoval turns 31 on Aug. 11. But it s an ancient 31, exacerbated by excessive eating and nightlife. Moreover, it s been a long time since he was any good. He hit.237 in 2 1/2 seasons with the Red Sox, playing in a hitter s yard. He hit 14 home runs total, and drove in just 59 runs. Fifty-nine! He suffered a major shoulder injury in 2016 that required surgery. He still had the issues with fluctuating weight. He was so bad hitting right-handed, he gave it up for a time. This year, he went back to it and was batting.150 at the time of his release. Defensively, he made five errors in just 29 games at third base. His WAR was in the red tough to do, even when you stink. So what s the attraction again about Pablo? That maybe the old surroundings will rekindle old hitting muscle memory? The old surroundings are not likely to look so familiar, unfortunately. The numerous Venezuelan compatriots he once had all around him are gone, notably Gregor Blanco, the guy who once told me he frequently whispered you re the greatest in Sandoval s ear to keep his confidence and spirits up. Pablo always needed that kind of coddling to thrive, but it s unlikely he s going to get it from the Giants players there now even the ones he remembers. Of course, we re getting ahead of ourselves here. It s entirely possible Sandoval will report to Triple-A Sacramento and never get any further than there. He ll have to show something, not only with his bat and his glove but his attitude. At the point he left the Giants, he had leverage to let things slide. Now, he has none. Will he shape up? Will he be contrite and committed? Or will he be the same old freewheeling Sandoval, oblivious and downright obstinate to the notion that his career is in a precarious state. The real question is why the Giants should want to find out. They have more important things to do than reignite this old drama, and even in the best of times with Pablo, there was always some kind of drama. Yes, the memories of the 2012 World Series are great and will always be there. Someday, Sandoval will be on the Giants Wall of Fame and he ll be remembered as an integral, popular part of their three championships. But the club trying to revive something this far committed to history has an uncomfortable feel. It s just not a forward move. Instead, it s a discouraging backpedal to better bygone days. Is this what Giants fans have to look forward to now, trying to keep themselves warm on the memories of 10/12/14 while L.A. steams toward its fifth straight National League West title? Bottom line, can anyone in their right mind see this turning out fabulously, Sandoval finding his stroke, slashing balls in all directions and starting at third base on 2018 Opening Day, wearing that tilted cap and infectious smile? It might make a decent movie, then again it would probably get panned for lack of plausibility. That s how nuts this development is. Disney probably wouldn t even buy into it.

13 MLB Homers sink Bumgarner vs. Padres AJ Cassavell and Chris Haft SAN FRANCISCO -- Helped by ample offensive support, right-hander Jhoulys Chacin defeated San Francisco for the third time this season as the Padres ended a three-game losing streak Thursday with a 5-2 triumph over Madison Bumgarner and the Giants. Chacin (9-7) improved to 8-6 lifetime against the Giants, including 4-1 at AT&T Park, which prompted Giants manager Bruce Bochy to pay him the ultimate compliment. Full Game Coverage "I think next to [Dodgers ace Clayton] Kershaw, I don't know who's tougher on us," Bochy said. Chacin, who allowed two runs on four hits over six innings, has started three games opposite Bumgarner. The Padres have won all three. He blanked the Giants until they scored twice in the sixth to forge a 2-2 tie. That deadlock lasted only briefly, as Cory Spangenberg clobbered a two-run homer in the seventh. It was his first hit in nine career at-bats against Bumgarner, and his first home run at AT&T Park. "I reached a few goals today," Spangenberg said. "He provided the power. I didn't try to do too much with it. It just went." It went 428 feet to be exact, the longest homer Statcast has projected by a left-handed hitter against Bumgarner. It complemented Hunter Renfroe's two-run, second-inning homer for San Diego -- in Renfroe's first at-bat since returning from the disabled list with a neck strain. Bumgarner (0-4), who also surrendered a pair of homers at San Diego on Saturday, allowed multiple long balls in back-to-back outings within the same season for the first time in his career. In two starts since being activated from the disabled list, all seven runs he allowed in 13 1/3 innings have resulted from home runs. "I got to stop giving up home runs. That's not going to work," Bumgarner said. "... I felt much better than the box score says. That's what's most frustrating." This was Bumgarner's first home start since April 13, one week before he sidelined himself for nearly three months with injuries he sustained in a dirt-bike accident. Meanwhile, the Padres maintained a balanced effort while defeating the Giants for the 15th time in their last 20 meetings. MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Putting away Posey: The Giants had the right man in the right spot: Buster Posey batting with the bases loaded and two out in the eighth inning. Wednesday, he delivered a two-run, pinch-hit double that lifted the Giants past Cleveland, 5-4. This time, however, Padres reliever Brad Hand coaxed a harmless fly to right field from Posey. Hand has not allowed a run in his last 14 1/3 innings, spanning 14 appearances, since June 14.

14 "With Brad Hand, you're so used to the inning that an inning that involves hits and walks, you're kind of shocked by it," said Padres manager Andy Green. "But he's been great all season long." Nunez nabbed: Eduardo Nunez performed aggressively but unluckily in the Giants' half of the sixth. After singling to score Denard Span with the inning's second run, Nunez broke for third base and appeared to have it stolen. But the momentum of his headfirst slide carried his left leg off the bag, enabling Spangenberg to tag him out and mute the rally. "Nunez had that base stolen," Bochy said. "He just came off it. Bad break there coming off the bag." QUOTABLE "I have faced Bumgarner a lot, especially this year. When you pitch against him, you really have to make pitches, keep your team there, because he's never going to give up." -- Chacin RECIPE FOR SUCCESS With Ryan Buchter, Hand and Brandon Maurer pitching the seventh, eighth and ninth, respectively, the Padres haven't had a starter go six innings since June 23 against Detroit. UPON FURTHER REVIEW San Diego's Erick Aybar appeared to put himself in scoring position in the fourth inning by singling with two outs and stealing second base. But the Giants received a break when the call was overturned and Aybar was declared out following a video review. Giants right-hander Kyle Crick picked off Spangenberg in the ninth when the San Diego third baseman strayed too far off first base. Brandon Belt applied the tag before Spangenberg dove back. The Padres challenged the play, but a review concluded the call would stand. WHAT'S NEXT Padres: Trevor Cahill, a prime trade candidate, starts Friday in San Francisco with first pitch slated for 7:15 p.m. PT. The veteran right-hander has upped his curveball usage this year, to great success. His 30 percent strikeout rate is easily a career high. Giants: Right-hander Jeff Samardzija, who owns a 7-3 record with a 3.68 ERA in 14 career appearances (12 starts) against San Diego, will start Friday's rematch beginning at 7:15 p.m. PT. Samardzija (4-11) became the first Giants pitcher to lose at least 10 games before the All-Star break since Tim Lincecum in MLB Leadoff man Span providing spark for Giants Jonathan Hawthorne SAN FRANCISCO -- On an otherwise quiet night from the San Francisco Giants' offense, Denard Span continued to produce in an effective manner atop the lineup. Thursday's two-hit performance, as the Giants lost, 5-2, to the San Diego Padres, was part of a larger trend for the 33-year-old center fielder. Over his last 19 games, Span is batting.325 with 13 runs, 10 extra-base hits and nine RBIs.

15 The veteran said after Wednesday's game he'd like to remain a part of the organization for the remainder of his contract. Span is signed through 2018; the Giants have a team option for "I think we know we've come up short this season but we know that we also still have a lot of good talent," Span said. "And guys that vibe. I hope they don't blow this thing up all the way.... Me personally, I hope that I'm here to be a part of the second half and next year." Span's timely hitting played a hand in the Giants' lone run-scoring inning Thursday. After Gorkys Hernandez doubled, Span singled two batters later to score his fellow outfielder. Though it doesn't count toward a quantifiable statistic, Span made a heads-up play to set the Giants up for another run. He advanced to second when Padres right fielder Hunter Renfroe's throw missed the cutoff man and nearly hit the backstop. Eduardo Nunez then singled home Span. Span also led off the fourth with a double, but the Giants couldn't bring him home after he advanced to third base with one out. Giants manager Bruce Bochy has been impressed with Span's recent offensive outburst. Span's recorded at least one hit in nine of the last 11 games. "He's doing what you hope your leadoff hitter does," Bochy said. "He's been a catalyst, gotten big hits. He's driving the ball and getting extra-base hits." Combined with No. 2 hitter Nunez -- who rejoined the Giants' lineup after the All-Star break -- the Giants have top-of-the-order production. Bochy said he hopes the rest of his lineup follows the tone Span sets. "Denard's playing pretty good baseball," Bochy said. "He's seeing the ball well. Between he and Noonie, we're getting a lot of good things at the top of the order. Just have to get some consistency throughout." MLB Samardzija set for rematch with Cahill Jonathan Hawthorne Thanks to scheduling, Giants starter Jeff Samardzija doesn't have to wait long to get another crack at the Padres, who torched the righty for seven runs, nine hits and two home runs last weekend in San Diego. But like last weekend, he'll again go against Trevor Cahill on Friday. The righty has found his groove recently, posting a 2.16 ERA over his last six starts. He also dominated the Giants last weekend, allowing one run in 6 2/3 innings. For his part, Samardzija has kept up his blistering strikeout-to-walk ratio of 9.64, which is on pace for a career high. Samardzija and Cahill have also been the subjects of trade speculation as the July 31 non-wavier Trade Deadline nears. "It's fun to look at and to see excitement happening around the league with trades and stuff," Cahill said. "But personally, it's just out of your control. I don't really think about that, because I can't do anything about it." Things to know about this game

16 Though Samardzija has 11 quality starts, he became the first Giants starter since Tim Lincecum's 2012 season to have 10 losses before the All-Star break. Cahill has good lifetime numbers against the Giants. Brandon Crawford is 5-for-24 against the 6-foot-4 righty and Hunter Pence is 6-for-23. Giants All-Star Buster Posey's two-run, pinch-hit double off a slider Wednesday was another example of him being all over non-fastball pitches this season. Out of more than 170 batters who have ended at least 100 at-bats against offspeed deliveries, no one tops Posey's.367 batting average. And that's not luck either; Posey's.377 expected weighted on-base average (xwoba) against offspeed, which Statcast calculates based on walks, strikeouts and quality of contact on batted balls, ranks fourth in baseball behind only Aaron Judge, Justin Bour and Justin Smoak. MLB A Giants fan in a Duane Kuiper jersey lost a foul ball, but then Kuiper himself came to give him one Matt Monagan Although the Giants lost, 5-2, to the Padres on Thursday night, one fan at AT&T Park -- sporting a Duane Kuiper jersey -- had a chance at some foul ball-catching glory. Instead, he bobbled the souvenir and it fell down into another section. He was, of course, devastated. Kuiper, the TV broadcaster for the Giants, noticed the crestfallen man sporting his jersey. He wanted to cheer him up, so the former Giant actually walked down to the fan's section and gave him an autographed souvenir. Really. It's a story that's too surreal to believe, but thankfully this guy has all the GIFs to prove it. Well done, Mr. Kuiper. MLB Giants players have no issues with Sandoval Chris Haft SAN FRANCISCO -- A handful of Giants sounded poised to welcome Pablo Sandoval back to the organization, assuming the third baseman's anticipated agreement with the club becomes official. MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez reported Wednesday that Sandoval, 30, would sign a Minor League contract Friday with the Giants, who employed him during his first seven big league seasons. With Sandoval, whom Boston released last Friday, still passing through Major League waivers Thursday, the Giants were not at liberty to discuss him freely. "Pablo Sandoval is not necessarily going to be a Giant," club president and CEO Larry Baer said on KNBR- AM, the team's flagship radio station. "He has to pass waivers and a deal has to be worked out." "He belongs to the Red Sox as far as I know," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said.

17 This didn't stop four Giants from speculating about Sandoval's possible return to the organization. Each was a teammate of Sandoval's when he jumped from San Francisco to Boston as a free agent following the 2014 season. "I think it's exciting," right fielder Hunter Pence said. "He's done so many amazing things here. He's always been one of those personalities that kind of fits in with the Giants and the Bay Area." "He had this knack, in big situations, for being able to slow the game down and come up with a big hit or the big play," right-hander George Kontos said. As an example, Kontos cited Sandoval's ninth-inning RBI double in Game 2 of the 2014 National League Division Series at Washington that tied the score, forced extra innings and led to the Giants' 2-1 victory. "He had a knack for coming up with a big hit or doing something that nobody expected," Kontos said. "I think that goes to show you what kind of player he is when he's healthy and motivated." After receiving his five-year, $95 million contract from the Red Sox, Sandoval reported to Spring Training in 2015 and told a Bleacher Report columnist that Bochy and Pence were the only Giants he would miss. Sandoval's former -- and possibly future -- teammates responded with a collective shrug. "It doesn't really matter what's been said in the past," catcher Buster Posey said. "We welcome anybody who can help us win games. It's as simple as that." Said Pence, "I know there's been all sorts of stuff -- I haven't listened or heard all of it -- but I've always enjoyed Pablo. I'm very grateful for the times that we played together and the remarkable things he's done in clutch situations. I enjoyed his playful, creative spirit." "Regardless of how it ended, I think he was beloved by the fans here," Kontos said. "I think it would be a lot of fun to have Pablo back." Each Giant cited Sandoval's hunger for success, which the portly switch-hitter must prioritize over his hunger at mealtimes regardless of which team he joins. "I hope he comes and rakes and we win a World Series," first baseman Brandon Belt said. "I just want to win. If he's a key to that, let's do it." NBC Sports Bay Area Giants Continue Embarrassing Stretch Against Rebuilding Padres Alex Pavlovic SAN FRANCISCO Three years ago, the Giants and Padres were the two teams in it until the very end for Pablo Sandoval s services. He ended up in Boston, and when he became available again over the past week, the Padres politely backed away. They prefer youth and Rule 5 Draft picks. They came into this season knowing they might lose 100 games, and they didn t mind. If anything, they welcomed the increased shot at the top pick in the 2018 draft. They re here to tank, but the Giants (who expect to welcome Sandoval back on a minor league deal as soon as Friday) just won t let them.

18 Thursday s 5-2 loss to San Diego was like so many others over the past calendar year. The Giants didn t hit, they didn t come through in the clutch, they did not support their starting pitcher, and they did not guarantee a handshake line. The Giants have lost 15 of 20 to the Padres since last year s All-Star break, including three straight last July to kickstart a tailspin that has lasted over a year now. They have dropped four of five meetings in this second half, which was supposed to prove that a Padre-like rebuild is not needed up here in the Bay Area. They are five games behind the Padres in the race to finish a distant fourth in the National League, and in a season full of disappointment, that stands as one of the more embarrassing facts. Not even Madison Bumgarner s return to AT&T Park could turn the tide. The lefty looked good most of the night, but two homers left him with a rougher-than-hoped line. Bumgarner gave up four earned on two homers. He has allowed multiple homers in back-to-back games for the first time in his career. Both starts have come against the Padres. I ve got to stop giving up homers, Bumgarner said of his start. That s not going to work. Bumgarner said he felt fine physically, and his curveball the pitch that has backfired on him most often since his return feels right mechanically. He was facing his last batter in the seventh as George Kontos warmed up with a runner on. Corey Spangenberg hit a two-run shot to the deepest part of the yard to make it 4-2. Buster Posey flied out with the bases loaded in the eighth. The Giants brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth but couldn t score, which has been the norm against the Padres. The Giants are averaging just 3.2 runs per game during this 20-game stretch of futility against a team they once dominated. We need to win ballgames right now, Bumgarner said. We ve got to start doing that. There s no magic solution. We ve got to start playing better, all of us. NBC Sports Bay Area Instant Analysis: Five Takeaways As Homers Hurt Bumgarner Vs Padres Alex Pavlovic SAN FRANCISCO A day after he did his press conference from a Game of Thrones throne, manager Bruce Bochy said he was happy the Giants won their series finale against the Indians and kept that plan in play. In that respect, he s lucky his team wasn t facing the Padres on Wednesday. The Giants were on Thursday, however, and they continued their baffling stretch of ineptitude against what is supposed to be the worst team in the National League West. The 5-2 loss to San Diego was the 15th in the last 20 meetings between the two teams, one of which has a $200 million payroll and the other of which is actively tanking. The Giants had a shot at a comeback in the eighth, but Buster Posey flied out to right with two outs and the bases loaded. Here are five things to know, if you are the curious type: - Madison Bumgarner has faced the Padres twice since returning. In 13 1/3 innings, he has allowed 10 hits and seven earned runs. He is getting hurt by a familiar problem for the 2017 Giants: The Padres

19 have four homers off Bumgarner in those two starts. Hunter Renfroe and Cory Spangenberg took him deep Thursday, with Spangenberg hitting one out to the deepest part of the yard on Bumgarner s final pitch. - This is the first time in Bumgarner s career that he has allowed multiple homers in back-to-back starts. - Kyle Crick showed good stuff sitting while stranding a runner on second in the eighth. He followed that with a scoreless ninth. The Giants should make it a priority to throw him into some deeper water over the next two months. - There s an epidemic these days of outfielders making foolish throws to the plate. We see it just about every night, and it cost the Padres in the sixth. Gorkys Hernandez was on second and he took off right away on Denard Span s single to right. Renfroe had no play at the plate but he threw it anyway and Span took second. He scored when Eduardo Nuñez singled to left. - The Giants announced their second consecutive sellout. That s a streak. Maybe? Santa Rosa Press Democrat Madison Bumgarner remains winless as Giants lose to Padres 5-2 Janie McCauley SAN FRANCISCO Jhoulys Chacin outpitched Madison Bumgarner, Cory Spangenberg hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh inning that chased MadBum from his first home start in more than three months and the San Diego Padres beat the San Francisco Giants 5-2 on Thursday night. Bumgarner (0-4) struck out five and walked one over 6⅓ innings, taking his home mound for the first time since spraining his pitching shoulder in an April 20 dirt bike accident. The 2014 World Series MVP is winless after six 2017 starts. Hunter Renfroe came off the disabled list and hit an early two-run homer to help back Chacin s third consecutive winning decision. Wil Myers added a run-scoring double in the eighth as San Diego bounced back from an embarrassing 18-4 rout by the Rockies on Wednesday at Coors Field. Chacin (9-7) allowed two runs on four hits, struck out four and walked one in six innings. Bumgarner received a warm welcome in his return, then went in the first on 11 pitches, a pair of flyball outs to left and a strikeout. Then he surrendered a leadoff double to Jabari Blash to start the second, followed by Renfroe s homer just inside the left-field foul pole. The left-hander and 2014 World Series MVP pitched at AT&T Park for the first time since April 13. Bumgarner also allowed two home runs Saturday, so this marked the first time in his career he has surrendered multiple longballs in consecutive outings during a single season. San Francisco fell to 0-6 in his starts, having given the ace just 10 runs of support.