Giants name Duggar Opening Day center fielder
GLENDALE, Ariz. – The Giants began spring training with an open competition for all three starting outfield spots.
With 10 days left in camp, Steven Duggar has officially won one of those position battles.
Manager Bruce Bochy said Monday he expects Duggar to start in center field on March 28 when the Giants open the season in San Diego.
Duggar suffered a seasonending shoulder injury last August and entered the spring needing to prove he was completely healthy to earn a roster spot. With two hits in three at-bats Monday, Duggar is now hitting .344 in Cactus League play and will continue to see more playing time.
“He’s gone back-to-back, he feels good, that’s three out of four (games) I think and we’ll ramp it up even more here after the day off,” Bochy said.
The Giants have not named starters at either corner outfield position, but non-roster invitee Gerardo Parra appears in line to start the season in right field while Mac Williamson appears poised to play in left. President of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi has indicated the Giants will continue exploring ways to add outfield help, yet a move to acquire an everyday starter seems increasingly unlikely
The topsy-turvy season of the Cal women’s basketball team netted a rough draw in the NCAA Tournament.
The Bears earned a No. 8 seed and a first-round, pick ‘em game against No. 9 North Carolina (18-14) for the right to play No. 1 overall seed Baylor (31-1) on its home court in the second round.
“It’s inevitable that you’re thinking about who the host is, because that’s where you’re going,”said head coach Lindsay Gottlieb. “With that said: ‘Is there a more storied name in college athletics than North Carolina?’ I don’t think it’s going to be hard to get our players to focus the jerseys that are right in front of us for the first game.”
Cal, which opens against the Tar Heels at 12:30 p.m. Saturday in Waco, Texas, made the tournament for the seventh time in Gottlieb’s eight sea-
sons, including the 2013 Final Four team. But much of the drama was removed from this “Selection Monday.”
The bracket was posted on social media well before it was scheduled to be revealed on an ESPN broadcast at 4 p.m., sending the network into a scramble and an early release. By the time Cal got what was supposed to be a watch party at Cornerstone in Berkeley, the team had already celebrated what it took to get an invite to the dance.
“The goal was to get into the tournament, and now, it’s to do damage in March,” senior point guard Asha Thomas said. “We’re ready to pack our bags and get ready to play Saturday.”
An NCAA berth appeared unlikely about a month ago as Cal was amid a five-game losing skid. But a smartly crafted nonconference schedule and a strong finish got the Bears off the bubble.
Cal opened the season 9-0 and was No. 2 in RPI after winning in overtime at St. Mary’s on Dec. 8. Then came a midseason swoon, during which it lost 11 of 17 games and saw its ranking plummet to 43.
With their postseason goals slipping from their reach, the Bears closed the regular season with four straight wins, including a victory over then-no. 17 Arizona State. It was a stretch that reminded the committee of big early-season wins at BYU and St. Mary’s and Cal’s potential for making a run on the road.
The Bears had little trouble scoring this season, finishing among the top half of the loaded Pac-12 in scoring, fieldgoal and 3-point shooting and assists. But defense was a problem for much of the season.