Working for Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, my posts here on Life’s A Ball are minimal, but my writing is not. As a Web Producer I am editing our expert reporters’ work for each Bay Area team and putting together the total package for the website. But, I am also writing Staff Reports without a byline. At the beginning of each month I will post all of the previous month’s Staff Reports that I wrote for CSN Bay Area for you to look back at. Below is my work from the month of July, 2016:
Report: Giants showing ‘strong interest’ in Cuban INF Gurriel
The Giants are currently scrambling in their infield with multiple players sidelined.
In the wake of the Giants ailing in the infield, the team is reportedly showing “strong interest” in Cuban star Yuliesky Gurriel, according to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports. Gurriel has mainly played third base in the Cuban National Series.
Ex-A’s OF Swisher chooses family over baseball this season
Former A’s first-round draft pick Nick Swisher, and his wife JoAnna, recently welcomed their second daughter, Sailor Stevie.
With the addition to his family, Swisher has decided to “take a step back” from baseball and spend the rest of the season with his family. The 35-year-old outfielder/first baseman sent out six tweets to explain his decision.
Former Giants prospect Duvall named to All-Star Game
Adam Duvall hit three home runs with the Giants in 2014, his lone season with the team that selected him in the 11th round of the 2010 MLB Draft.
The next season, he was the extra throw in piece to be traded to the Cincinnati Reds in order to acquire starting pitcher Mike Leake. Pitching prospect Keury Mella was the prize that the Reds coveted. Little did they know, the extra piece, Duvall, would be their lone All-Star in this year’s Midsummer Classic.
Mets’ Colon replaces Giants’ Bumgarner in All-Star Game
Mets manager Terry Collins, who will also manage the National League in this year’s MLB All-Star Game, announced Friday that his starting pitcher Bartolo Colon will replace Giants starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner at the Midsummer Classic.
Giants react to Belt winning NL Final Vote for All-Star Game
In his sixth season with the Giants, Brandon Belt is an All-Star for the first time at 28 years old.
Belt won the Final Vote for the National League Friday to earn the nod in the Midsummer Classic. Giants fans took to Twitter, blowing up social media with #VoteBelt to get their beloved first baseman in the game.
Former A’s pitcher Pomeranz added to All-Star Game for NL
Before the All-Star break has even begun, San Diego Padres starting pitcher Drew Pomeranz has already won a career-high eight games this season. His breakout year just became even sweeter on Saturday.
A day after being forced out of the game early, Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard was scratched from the All-Star Game by his manager, and National League manager, Terry Collins. Pomeranz was chosen Saturday to replace Syndergaard for baseball’s collection of stars at San Diego’s Petco Park.
POLL: What pitcher should start All-Star Game for NL?
The Giants have a duo of starting pitchers headed to the All-Star Game this year in San Diego at Petco Park.
One of them, however, is ineligible to pitch in the game. With Madison Bumgarner toeing the rubber Sunday night, two days before the Midsummer Classic, the lefty will take part in the festivities, but not the game.
Belt: Giants’ 1-2 punch of Bum, Cueto ‘the best in baseball’
Giants first baseman Brandon Belt is in his first MLB All-Star Game in his sixth big league season after winning the Final Vote by the fans. Belt is being accompanied by teammates Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner, and Johnny Cueto.
As the Giants sport the best record in baseball (57-33) at the All-Star break, Belt sent praise to San Francisco’s All-Star arms Monday in San Diego.
Former Royals teammates take Cueto deep in All-Star Game
Johnny Cueto pitched a complete game two-hitter in Game 2 of the World Series last year to help the Royals claim their crown over the Mets. But in the 87th MLB All-Star Game, the Royals didn’t give Cueto any breaks.
In his first season with the Giants, Cueto got the call to start on the bump in the Midsummer Classic. Cueto cruised through the first inning, allowing only a Mike Trout single. The second inning was a much different story.
Giants’ Belt, Posey go hitless as NL loses All-Star Game
The Giants were represented by Buster Posey and Brandon Belt as their position players in the 87th MLB All-Star Game.
Both players went hitless at the plate as the National League fell to the American League, 4-2, in the Midsummer Classic Tuesday night at Petco Park. Posey started the game behind the dish and batted fifth while Brandon Belt came off the bench in the top of the eighth inning.
A’s Vogt doesn’t see field as AL beats NL in All-Star Game
A’s catcher Stephen Vogt made his second straight All-Star Game this season, only he didn’t see the field Tuesday night at San Diego’s Petco Park.
The American League beat the National League, 4-2, to secure home-field advantage in the World Series. AL manager Ned Yost only used two catchers the whole game.
Cavs’ Lue defends Durant choosing Warriors: ‘I support him’
Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue led his team to the biggest comeback in NBA history less than one month ago when they overcame a 3-1 deficit to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals.
The Warriors have reloaded their roster since their Game 7 heartbreak, signing star forward Kevin Durant this offseason to a two-year, $54.3 million contract. Lue, for one, doesn’t see the commotion with Durant joining the Warriors.
Cain allows nine runs for Single-A Giants on rehab assignment
Matt Cain took the mound back in Single-A for the San Jose Giants Friday night, hoping to take the final step of his rehab assignment before joining the big league club. His results, however, did not go as planned in the box score.
Facing, the Lancaster JetHawks, who are the Astros’ Single-A team, Cain allowed nine earned runs in four innings of work. The JetHawks recorded 10 hits off Cain as he walked three and struck out two in Lancaster’s hitter-friendly park.
Warriors finish summer league on losing end to Mavs
The Warriors finished off their summer league schedule Friday night with an 80-74 loss against the Mavericks at Cox Pavillion in Las Vegas.
Warriors’ summer league leaders: McCaw makes buckets
The Warriors left the Las Vegas Summer League with a 2-4 record behind the coaching of Jarron Collins.
With many players trying to show off their skills for Golden State’s front office, the team’s second-round draft pick Patrick McCaw stood out. The UNLV product averaged a team-high 15.8 points per game in five games played.
Kings’ summer league leaders: Skal shines in Las Vegas
The Kings came out of Las Vegas without a single win in summer league this year. They did, however, see solid numbers from 20-year-old rookie Skal Labissiere.
Stanford’s Shaw using lessons from Gruden with McCaffrey
Christian McCaffrey had the kind of season you dream of last year as a sophomore for Stanford. The jack of all trades running back set a new NCAA record with 3,864 all-purpose yards, which led him to being named the AP College Football Player of the Year and runner-up for the Heisman Trophy.
His head coach David Shaw knows the payer he has on his hands. Instead of staying content, Shaw will push his star.
This Day In MLB History: Willie Mays records 3,000th hit
The decorated 3,000 hits club currently has 29 members of its MLB fraternity with Ichiro Suzuki knocking on the door to become player No. 30.
At 39 years old, Willie Mays stepped into the batter’s box 46 years ago in a stadium that ceases to exist today against a team that isn’t even around anymore. At the time, the same heralded club only had single digit members. Facing Mike Wegener of the Montreal Expos, Mays smacked a ball in between the third baseman and shortstop for a single to left field on an 0-2 count, marking hit 3,000th career hit on July 18, 1970 at Candlestick Park.
For the first time since June 27, Giants second baseman Joe Panik was back on the field, but not with the rest of his teammates in Boston against the Red Sox.
In Louisiana, against the New Orleans Zephyrs, Panik began his Triple-A rehab assignment with the Sacramento River Cats. He went 0-for-2 with a walk before being pulled after his planned five innings of work.
Barbosa honoring old Suns teammate with jersey number
After two seasons with the Golden State Warriors, Leandro Barbosa is headed back to the place where his NBA career began.
The 13-year veteran signed with the Phoenix Suns this offseason, where he first came into the league for the 2003-04 season out of Brazil. On Tuesday, Barbosa was officially introduced by the Suns, joining the franchise for the third time.
Harbaugh stars in rap song using 49ers catch phrase
University of Michigan head football coach Jim Harbaugh is everywhere these days.
His latest venture saw him turning from coaching star to rap music video star. Harbaugh is seen yelling out the chant he famously used with the San Francisco 49ers, “Who’s Got It Better Than Us?” in Bay Area rapper Bailey’s newest song with the same title as Harbaugh’s chant.
Report: Giants ‘pursuing’ Rays LHP Matt Moore
The Giants (61-44) finished July with just a two-game lead over their rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers (59-46), in the National League West. Could they look to add before Monday’s 1 p.m. PT trade deadline?
San Francisco’s front office is reportedly pursuing Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Matt Moore, sources have told Fox Sports‘ Ken Rosenthal.
Duffy doubles, records one RBI in rehab game with River Cats
Playing in his second rehab game in Triple-A with the Sacramento River Cats, Giants third baseman Matt Duffy went 1-for-4 with an RBI double in a 15-1 win Sunday night.
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