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John Shipley: It’s time to get excited — really excited — about Royce Lewis

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:28:22 GMT

Baseball players are generally happy to talk to reporters — or least are more willing to — when things are going well for them. This might be why Royce Lewis is always so chipper.When he’s playing baseball, healthy and on the field, it always seems to be going well for Lewis. Since first being promoted to Class AAA in 2022, Lewis is hitting .315 with 20 home runs and 57 RBIs in 99 games between Wichita, St. Paul and Minnesota. And since returning from his second anterior cruciate ligament surgery on May 29, the rookie infielder hasn’t gone more than two games without a hit — and as many as two only twice — in the big leagues.There are more than a few reasons to believe the Twins might finally be turning a corner, and Lewis is a big one. Because of two serious knee injuries, his track record is light on quantity — he played his 50th big league game in parts of two seasons on Monday against Cleveland — but deep in quality.Is it too early to anoint the No. 1 pick in the 2017 amateur dr...

Beachgoers head to Huntington beach to beat the heat 

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:28:22 GMT

Summer may be ending soon, but the temperatures are still heating up across the Southland with possible record-breaking temperatures in some areas. Several heat advisories are in effect until tonight. The valley areas and the lower mountain elevations are experiencing triple digit temperatures. California residents and tourists from all across the country spent the day at Huntington beach to beat the heat and stay cool. With temperatures in the 70s for much of the day, the beach was an escape from some of the scorching temperatures in other regions. Beachgoers flock to the beach south of the pier in Huntington Beach, Calif., Friday, June 30, 2023. (Jeff Gritchen/The Orange County Register via AP)“It’s a little toasty in Orange County today. It’s more than 20 degrees higher in Orange than it is here and it's perfect here,” said Cindy Abbott, who was visiting the beach with a friend. “We love the heat, the cool air, a nice strong breeze, that’s what we are here for,” said To...

Man dies after crashing stolen car into San Jose creek

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:28:22 GMT

SAN JOSE – A man died Sunday morning after he crashed a stolen Kia sedan into Canoas Creek in South San Jose, police said.The solo-vehicle collision happened around 8:30 a.m. near the intersection of Velasco Drive and Avenida Arboles, according to the San Jose Police Department.Prior to the crash, officers saw the car turn into a residential neighborhood west of Snell Avenue, police said. They did not try to stop the car and lost sight of it after entering the neighborhood.Officers found the car down a creek embankment near Velasco Drive and Avenida Arboles.An investigation revealed that the man was speeding westbound on Avenida Arboles when he crashed through a wooden barrier and a chain link fence and into the creek embankment, according to police. The man was not wearing a seatbelt at the time.The man died of his injuries at the scene, police said. The Santa Clara County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office will release his identity once it is confirmed and his next of kin is notifi...

The 10 most expensive homes reported sold in Alameda, Piedmont and Oakland in the week of Aug. 14

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:28:22 GMT

A house in Oakland that sold for $2.4 million tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Alameda, Piedmont and Oakland in the past week.In total, 18 residential real estate sales were recorded in the area during the past week, with an average price of $1.7 million. The average price per square foot ended up at $721.The prices in the list below concern real estate sales where the title was recorded during the week of Aug. 14 even if the property may have been sold earlier.10. $1.5 million, single-family residence in the 8000 block of Broadway TerraceThe property in the 8000 block of Broadway Terrace in Oakland has new owners. The price was $1,470,000. The house was built in 1994 and has a living area of 3,570 square feet. The price per square foot is $412. The house features five bedrooms and three bathrooms.9. $1.5 million, single-family home in the 6600 block of Longwalk DriveThe sale of the single-family house in the 6600 block of Longwalk Drive, Oakland,...

Meadows: Actions detailed in indictment were official duties

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:28:22 GMT

By Kate Brumback | Associated PressATLANTA — Mark Meadows testified in court Monday that actions detailed in a sweeping indictment that accuses him of participating in an illegal conspiracy to overturn then-President Donald Trump’s 2020 election loss were all part of his job as White House chief of staff.The extraordinary testimony — from a former top presidential aide who now faces charges alongside his old boss — came in the first courtroom skirmish in a case that’s likely to have many. Meadows’ claims were part of his argument that the case should be moved from a state court to federal court. U.S. District Judge Steve Jones did not immediately rule.As Trump was consumed by claims of widespread election fraud in the weeks after his 2020 loss, Meadows said, it was difficult to focus on the things they needed to be doing to wind down the presidency. As a result, Meadows said, he took actions to determine whether the allegations were true, including actions prosecut...

San Ramon’s Chow restaurant closing after just a year at Bishop Ranch

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:28:22 GMT

The last of the Bay Area’s popular Chow restaurants is shutting down, just a year after its big reopening at Bishop Ranch in San Ramon.“We’re closing after our service on September 10th,” the restaurant team said in an Aug. 27 Instagram post. “Please join us in saying goodbye over the next couple of weeks. We have little time to share our thanks with each other, and to say our proper goodbyes to all of you, and to your families who have embraced us over the years. With your gracious support, we were almost there – but we just ran out of time.”“Our hearts are heavy with this news,” the post said.Known for its globally inspired comfort food menu and brunch offerings, the restaurant chain has had difficulties in the past. Chef-owner Tony Gulisano opened the first location in 1997 and at one point had five eateries: two in San Francisco, and one each in Oakland, Danville and Lafayette.  But they began to close one by one in 2018 and by November ...

Giants injury updates: Mitch Haniger, Mike Yastrzemski near returns from injuries

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:28:22 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — Mitch Haniger and Mike Yastrzemski’s long-awaited returns from the injury list will have to wait at least another day.The status of the two veteran outfielders remained unchanged ahead of Monday’s series opener against the Cincinnati Reds. But manager Gabe Kapler reiterated pre-game that the two should be available in the coming days.Haniger (right arm fracture) and Yastrzemski (hamstring) are “looking good, feeling good and in a good spot,” according to Kapler. He said the two are “under consideration” to be recalled over the next few days.Haniger hasn’t played in a major-league game since his right forearm was broken by an errant fastball June 13, but he’s been making gradual progress in recent weeks. Haniger had his fifth rehab assignment with the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats Sunday, going 0-for-2 with a walk while playing right field.The Mountain View native signed a three-year, $43.5 million deal with his h...

Some US Open players are making winning comebacks from injury or retirement

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:28:22 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Comebacks are nothing new in tennis. There’s quite a history of that sort of thing, including by stars such as Martina Navratilova, John McEnroe, Martina Hingis, Bjorn Borg, Kim Clijsters and Andy Murray.Perhaps that’s why so many fans of Serena Williams hold out hope she’ll return after playing her last match a year ago at the U.S. Open.Williams recently gave birth to her second child, so she will not be at Flushing Meadows, but this year’s tournament features several players who left the tour for a significant amount of time and now are back. Day 1 included victories by Ajla Tomljanovic — who beat Williams in the 23-time Grand Slam champion’s farewell contest last September but has been sidelined by injury since November — and 2021 Australian Open finalist Jennifer Brady (injury) in the afternoon. Then 2016 Wimbledon runner-up Milos Raonic (injured) and 2018 Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki (retirement) appeared at Louis Armstrong Stadium on Monday night...

Liberty beat Aces 94-85, tighten up race for top seed in WNBA playoffs

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:28:22 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Sabrina Ionescu scored 25 points and Breanna Stewart added 20 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists to help the New York Liberty beat the Las Vegas Aces 94-85 on Monday night in the final regular-season meeting between the teams.The Liberty cut the Aces’ lead in the race for the top overall seed in the playoffs to 1 1/2 games, with only a handful left to play. The teams potentially wouldn’t meet again until the WNBA Finals. They split their four regular-season games.New York (28-7) has won four straight since losing in Las Vegas on Aug. 17. Las Vegas (30-6) got off to a hot start and led 16-7 with 4 minutes left in the first quarter before New York took over behind Ionescu. The Liberty outscored the Aces 31-10 over the next 11 minutes to go up 38-26 with 3:10 left in the half. New York led 47-35 at the half as Ionescu had 17 points, much to the delight of the sellout crowd of 11,615 that showed up for the rare Monday night game.A’ja Wilson scored 15...

Mets closer Edwin Díaz throws bullpen and hopes for return to mound this season

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:28:22 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — After throwing his first outdoor bullpen following knee surgery, All-Star closer Edwin Díaz remained hopeful he can return to the mound for the New York Mets this season.The 29-year-old right-hander tore his right patellar tendon on March 15 while celebrating after getting the final out of Puerto Rico’s win over the Dominican Republic at the World Baseball Classic. The projected timeline for a return was six-to-eight months.“My goal was to be ready in six months,” Díaz said Monday. “And I’m working on that.”Díaz said he was clocked in the low-to-mid 90s on Sunday, when he threw from an outdoor bullpen mound to a catcher in the crouching position for the first time since getting hurt.“I know my stuff is there,” Díaz said. “A main thing for me is how my knee is good and healthy. I feel healthy right now and I’m pitching again. I just want to get that positive note to go home and relax, work hard for next year.”Mets manager Buck Showalter has been encouraged by Dí...