Latest news with #SacramentoRiverCats
New York Times
06-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Hometown hero Logan Webb pitches Giants to stabilizing win in West Sacramento
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Matt Cain, throughout his long tenure as a load-bearing pillar in the San Francisco Giants rotation, adhered to a personal code whenever he'd hand over the baseball at the end of a day's work. No matter how well he pitched at the Giants' waterfront ballpark, no matter how few runs scored on his watch, no matter how comfortably the home team was ahead and no matter how loudly the crowd cheered his effort, the stoic right hander refused to tip his cap if he left a runner on base. Something about it just didn't feel right. Advertisement Logan Webb has a little Matt Cain in him. 'I wish I had given a wave or something,' said Webb, who walked off the mound with two on and two out in the seventh inning at Sutter Health Park Saturday night to the kind of ovation reserved for hometown heroes. 'It's always awkward in those moments and I don't know why. But I felt the love from the Sacramento crowd. It was awesome to pitch at home.' Because their Las Vegas-bound former Bay Area rivals are carpetbagging it in the Central Valley for at least three seasons, the Giants are playing a major-league series in a minor-league stadium. It happens to be the Triple-A ballpark down the road from where Webb grew up in Rocklin. He fidgeted in his seat here many times as a kid, watching the Sacramento River Cats when they were still an A's affiliate. Maybe something happens when so many of your formative memories of professional baseball come in a ballpark that doesn't have a second deck and where every seat is close to the action. Maybe there's less emotional distance between you and the players. It might be one of the reasons Webb has remained so grounded and so rocksteady since he established himself as one of the league's best pitchers in 2021. You can't injure yourself by falling off a pedestal when you never put yourself on one. Webb delivered another of his typical starts on an otherwise atypical night. He pumped strikes and mixed his pitches; a Giants lineup that included a freshly activated Matt Chapman and a resurgent Willy Adames did the rest in a 7-2 victory. The legions of Giants fans who barely had a moment to cheer here in Friday night's 11-2 loss came out of the auditory woodwork this time. But the sellout crowd of 12,298 could be better described as pro-Webb than pro-Giants. The moment Webb walked out of the bullpen in the bottom of the first inning, he was showered with shouts of 'Go Rocklin' and 'Go Thunder' from fans who more than likely once applauded the touchdown drives he directed in high school. Advertisement Webb's cheering section for home games in San Francisco is so vocal that his coaches would tease him about it. So you knew his loyalists would be out in full force when he started a game in his own backyard. You can't call it a cheering section when the support stretches from pole to pole. 'Every time I got an out or a strikeout, it felt like the whole crowd was cheering me on,' Webb said. Webb continues to raise his own high bar in what's turning into the best season of his career. He reclaimed the major-league lead with 120 1/3 innings and his 133 strikeouts are second only to Philadelphia's Zack Wheeler among NL pitchers. Giants manager Bob Melvin referred to Webb as a no-brainer to make his second NL All-Star team. He completed at least six innings for the eighth consecutive start and continues to be a stabilizing force every time he takes the mound. That's precisely what the Giants needed one night after Melvin questioned the team's focus in a sloppy loss. Perhaps it's no coincidence that the Giants played several of those unfocused games over the past four weeks without Chapman, who sustained a significantly sprained hand while getting picked off a month ago. The team was missing more than its leading home run hitter and Gold Glove third baseman. Chapman is also Melvin's conduit to the clubhouse and the unofficial captain who sets high standards for his teammates. 'That's what he's been about his whole career,' said Melvin, who also managed Chapman with the A's in Oakland. 'From the minute he's gotten here, he embraces the leadership role. He plays a certain style of baseball that we want to play. So it's huge to have him back and not just the production part. It's what he does on the field, it's his presence in the dugout, in the clubhouse. It's a big part of who we are.' Advertisement The Giants' lineup without Chapman lacked continuity, as well. Even after the stunning June 15 trade with the Boston Red Sox that netted Rafael Devers, one of the best left-handed hitters in the game, the lineup over the past couple weeks competed like a group that had dressed itself in the dark. The expectation now is that with Devers and Chapman in the middle of the order, and Casey Schmitt expected to become the everyday second baseman on Monday when he's eligible to be activated from the IL, a deeper and more stable lineup will be able to win its share of games without requiring near perfection from a rotation firmly led by Webb and Robbie Ray and a bullpen that has been baseball's best in the first half. 'I'd like to think I can make an impact,' Chapman said prior to the game. 'Finally, we get to play together (with Devers). We're one step closer to everybody being together and getting comfortable playing with each other and to start playing the baseball that we expect to play.' But there's no thinking more wishful than 'everybody being together' when you're dealing with a 26-man roster and a 162-game season. The next injury or inconsistent stretch is always right around the corner. Not an hour passed after Chapman's pregame session with reporters before there was a roster update: left-hander Erik Miller to the injured list with a left elbow sprain. The news wasn't too surprising. Something seemed off with Miller most of the year. There had to be occult forces behind his 1.50 ERA in 36 games because Miller totaled more walks and hit batters (22) than strikeouts (20) in 30 innings. His 14 percent drop in strikeout percentage is the largest year-over-year decrease among all major-league pitchers who've thrown at least 20 innings. Yet Miller remained an important part of the Giants' late-inning mix and he was a huge key to Wednesday's win at Arizona when he entered Landen Roupp's bases-loaded, no-out situation and limited the damage to one run on a sacrifice fly. A sprained elbow is often a precursor to Tommy John surgery but Melvin said Miller's MRI did not show major structural damage and the hope is that he will recover with a rest interval. For now, the Giants selected the contract of a familiar face, left-hander Scott Alexander, whom they recently signed on a minor-league deal, to replace Miller on the roster. Joey Lucchesi is another lefty in the bullpen but his role for as long as he's here is to pitch multiple innings. Former Tigers lefty Matt Gage signed a minor-league contract with the Giants on Saturday. Triple-A left-handed starter Carson Whisenhunt could be introduced to the big leagues in a relief role, too. The trade deadline is more than three weeks away and a team's needs tend to fluctuate, but left-handed relief almost certainly has sped to the top of club president Buster Posey's list. If only the Giants could clone Randy Rodriguez, who replaced Webb and stranded both inherited runners. Rodriguez is unscored upon in 36 of 38 appearances and is the Giants' top All-Star candidate after Webb and Ray. An argument could be made that, given his standing among his relief cohort, Rodriguez is the most deserving Giant on the team. 'The numbers say he's been the best reliever in baseball,' said Webb, who also lobbied for Tyler Rogers to become a first-time All-Star after several seasons in which he merited a place. 'I really hope he gets it.' 2 at-bats, 2 2-RBI singles for #2 — SFGiants (@SFGiants) July 6, 2025 The Giants will play two formidable opponents in the final homestand prior to the All-Star break when the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers come to San Francisco, but there's still a chance to create the momentum they couldn't gather while struggling with their own demons in the past several series against sub-.500 teams. Adames hasn't been out of action like Chapman, but his bat hasn't made an impact for most of the season. It's starting to heat up now. He hit a pair of two-run singles on Saturday, including a crisp line drive in the first inning after A's right-hander Luis Severino hit Heliot Ramos and Chapman with pitches. Advertisement Both hit batters glared back at the mound. Ramos has been hit 11 times this year after getting hit just twice last season. Chapman didn't appear to appreciate getting plunked in his first plate appearance after missing a month with a hand injury. A week ago, Webb expressed exasperation with the number of Giants batters getting hit and levied a not-so-veiled threat when he said that 'the game finds a way to even itself out.' Webb couldn't risk getting ejected Saturday night and didn't hit any batters in retaliation. But it sure was interesting that he made two kneecap pitches in the fourth inning — a 1-0 sinker to Jacob Wilson and an 0-1 sinker to Brent Rooker — that missed their spots by a lot more than his usual location mistakes. It was one more reminder: Some of Webb's most fervent fans never have to buy a ticket to see him pitch. They can watch from the dugout for free.
Forbes
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Athletics Adjust To Their Minor League Home Park In A Major League Way
WEST SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 24: A general view of Sutter Health Park on January 24, 2021 ... More in West Sacramento, Calif. The stadium is the home of the Sacramento River Cats. (Photo by) The team formerly known as the Oakland Athletics is now called the Athletics. That's because the Major League Baseball franchise is planning to move to Las Vegas. The team now plays in West Sacramento, California, which is 82 miles from Oakland. The A's now play their home games at Sutter Health Park, which is also the Triple-A franchise of the Sacramento River Cats, the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. The park opened on May 15, 2000. The seating capacity of Sutter Health Park is 14,611. It is 330 feet down the left field line, 403 feet to dead center field, and 325 feet to right field. Bullpens are behind a low wall in right field. Several small press boxes have been created. This old scout attended a June 20-23 weekend series between the Athletics and the Cleveland Guardians at the Athletics temporary West Sacramento home. It was a unique experience, as the Athletics made every effort to provide the 'look' and 'feel" of a Major League Baseball stadium. In an effort to provide a playing facility in West Sacramento that meets the standards of Major League Baseball, and the Major League Baseball Players Association, the Athletics had to make a considerable number of modifications to Sutter Health Park. SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 17: A detail shot of the shoes worn by Jacob Wilson #5 of the ... More Athletics against the Houston Astros at Sutter Health Park on June 17, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by) According to some of the changes include: 1- Modification of the the video board. A state-of-the-art video experience, featuring a 75X 32 main display was installed. 2- Modifications were made to enhance the sustainability, performance and playability of the natural grass surface. Since the field is in constant use with the Athletics and River Cats both playing home games at Sutter Health Park, the installation of AirPAT technology is used to help allow the grass to thrive, with good moisture management. As the heat continues to increase in West Sacramento, the grass surface could become an issue. 3- Increased infrastructure for stadium technology will help with device traffic from both fans and media. 4- Renovated clubhouse, dugout, and player amenities help give the Athletics temporary new home a major league fell. The clubhouses are located in the outfield, and players must walk to and from the clubhouses down the left field line to access the clubhouses. But the facilities in the clubhouses and dugouts now include more modernized amenities and space to meet the needs of major league organizations. The Athletics are hoping their new Las Vegas home park will open in 2028. Ground has just been broken for construction of the new, $1.75 billion facility. The new stadium will seat 33,000 guests. WEST SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 24: An aerial view of Sutter Health Park on January 24, 2021 ... More in West Sacramento, Calif. The stadium is the home of the Sacramento River Cats. (Photo by) The Sutter Health Park Experience: This writer was very impressed with the overall environment the Athletics staff has created at their new temporary home. One gets the feel of a major league game, but the 'look' of a minor league facility. The park has only one deck, and that is strikingly different than the massive 30,000 seating capacities most fans experience. The positive attitude and overall friendliness of every staff member this old scout encountered was remarkable. The staff had a smile and a warm welcome for everyone. Fans were treated to a well planned display of interactive videos and music during down times in the games. There was a sense of enjoyment and joy in almost every minute of each game this writer attended. Concession stands bustled with business, and it seemed everyone was enjoying the readily available, common baseball game food. Sutter Health Park looked very clean, and very well maintained. It was a pleasure to attend games at the facility. Crowds for the first two games were just above 8,000 each game. SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 24: Jacob Wilson #5 of the Athletics celebrates a walk-off single ... More that scored Luis Urías against the Texas Rangers in the bottom of the ninth inning at Sutter Health Park on April 24, 2025 in Sacramento, California. The Athletics won the game 4-3. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) The Sunday game drew more than 10,000 spectators, as the team gave a Jacob Wilson bobblehead to everyone in attendance. Wilson is All Star Game bound, and he is a fan favorite. He will start at shortstop for the American League. His bobblehead was very popular. The Athletics have an exciting team. They are making the very best of a difficult situation as they await the construction of their new Las Vegas stadium. Until they move to Nevada, West Sacramento, and the staff working at Sutter Health Park can be very proud of the facility they are offering a major league club in their minor league park.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sacramento River Cats reveal alternate identity for 2025 season
( — The Sacramento River Cats announced their alternate identity for the 2025 season as the Sacramento Gold Diggers, according to officials. Video Above: River Cats win season opener, an 8-0 shutout The team will showcase its new jerseys on April 19 and will wear them for the first five games of this season. Advertisement Officials said the new identity is inspired by the California Gold Rush and the connection Sacramento has as 'the closest major city to the gold fields.' The logo consists of a miner named Dugg showcasing a gold tooth and a wink. The color pays homage to the Gold Rush history with gold pinstripes on an all-black jersey, officials said. Alcoholic drinks to-go may soon be a reality in parts of Sacramento The on-field cap consists of a dollar sign with an 'S' that represents Sacramento. It also features a pickaxe with a handle made of a baseball bat. A limited release of the Gold Diggers merchandise is available online right now, with the full collection becoming available on April 19. Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News.
Fox News
15-04-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Minor league baseball team reverses Gold Diggers name change after outrage
The Athletics were far from the only baseball team in Sacramento, California, receiving criticism at the start of the season. The minor league organization in town generated some heat last week. The Sacramento River Cats were set to partake in a recent minor league baseball tradition – changing their team for a period of time to promote their alternate identity. For example, the Somerset Patriots played as the Jersey Diners, and the Lehigh Valley IronPigs are set to compete as the Lehigh Valley Tomato Pie, just to name a few. The River Cats were set to play as the Sacramento Gold Diggers, seemingly a throwback to the California Gold Rush. The city of Sacramento was a haven for gold miners in the late 1840s and was turned into a thriving community and incorporated into California in 1850. "Inspired by the regional history of the California Gold Rush, this new identity offers a connection to the significant impact of this era when Sacramento grew as the closest major city to the gold fields," the team said in a news release Thursday, via The Sacramento Bee. The team released a video showcasing the team name but also leaned into an old trope as it showed two women with dollar signs on their eyes when they saw a player. The video, which has since been deleted from the team's social media pages, caused some outrage and the organization reversed their decision on the name. Sacramento Bee columnist Robin Epley ripped the rebranding as a "misogynistic joke on women." More people reacted on X. "Our recent marketing campaign for an alternative identity clearly missed the mark," the team said in a statement. "Our intention was to creatively reference the rich history of Sacramento and gold country, but our approach was wrong, and we are sorry for the mistake. We will no longer be using this identity." The River Cats are an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sacramento minor league team scraps 'sexist and demeaning' Gold Diggers identity 1 day after reveal, backlash
The Sacramento River Cats, Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants and current co-tenant of the Athletics, unveiled a new alternate identity on Thursday. It didn't go well. Sacramento announced it would take the field five times as the "Sacramento Gold Diggers," with a black and gold uniform featuring miner and dollar sign logos in a supposed nod to the city's history with the California gold rush. Of course, the term "gold digger" has come to mean something else these days. Advertisement The merchandise was put up for sale immediately, with the team saying it would be wearing its new uniforms for the first time on April 19. River Cats president and COO Chip Maxson even appeared on local news fully decked out in the new look. The River Cats removed all benefit of the doubt when they posted a video — preserved in this reaction video on the Sacramento Bee's website — in which two women, one of them apparently in a relationship with an older man, get distracted by a guy in a Gold Digger get-up, with cartoon dollar signs in their eyes. There was immediate criticism that the River Cats' new identity held up a sexist trope, so much so that the team immediately backtracked. All social media posts about the Gold Diggers have been removed and the merchandise is no longer available on any online shop. Advertisement The team released a statement to SF Gate's Alex Simon calling the whole idea a mistake: 'Our recent marketing campaign for an alternative identity clearly missed the mark. Our intention was to creatively reference the rich history of Sacramento and gold country, but our approach was wrong, and we are sorry for the mistake. We will no longer be using this identity.' The Sacramento River Cats will only play as the Sacramento River Cats this season. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) Wacky alternate identities, or even primary identities, have become the norm in minor league baseball, and the River Cats were clearly trying to follow suit here. These set-ups allow teams to sell merch to both local fans and a general audience, while still holding out onto their established identity. Maxson told CBS News Sacramento the team is "all about having fun" and the marketing team "did a great job of brainstorming," but they apparently didn't anticipate what the response would be, particularly from women in local office, as compiled by the Bee: 'As a woman, as a mom, as an elected official — I was shocked,' said West Sacramento City Councilwoman and Mayor Pro-Tem, Verna Sulpizio-Hull. 'The video is disrespectful to women, misogynistic and downright offensive. This attempt to market a team that we love, with such a demeaning message about women, does not align with our values in West Sacramento.' Sacramento City Councilwoman Lisa Kaplan called the video 'sexist and demeaning' in a tweet and likened it to a '1950s-era Mad Men' advertisement. 'At this time in our nation, where women's rights are being reversed, it is more important than ever that women leaders stand up and denounce any time women are seen as token sex pieces or less than equal,' she wrote in a statement. West Sacramento City Councilwoman Quirina Orozco, in whose district Sutter Health Park sits, and the longest-serving councilwoman in the history of the city said that she found the video offensive and was upset by its use. 'This video does not comport with the positive and well-established reputation of our minor league champions. We expect better. We can do better,' Orozco wrote in a statement Thursday evening. One day later, the Gold Diggers were no more.
