S.F. Examiner: Graveman tops Samardzija in Bay Bridge Series warmup

By Art Spander
San Francisco Examiner

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Exhibition games are baseball in reverse. “You get the starters their work,” said Bob Melvin, the A’s manager, “and then it’s time for the young guys to finish and get the win.”

Which is exactly what happened Monday for Oakland. Against the Giants

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©2017 The San Francisco Examiner

S.F. Examiner: Baseball’s time in the sun

By Art Spander
San Francisco Examiner

GOODYEAR, Ariz. – A manager’s dream. “I’m enjoying seeing those guys,” said Bruce Bochy. So are the rest of us. Not just the Giants, who Sunday out here on the desert among the scrub vegetation and abandoned jet planes, won another game.

Also the fans, few as showed up at Goodyear ballpark, seemingly halfway to California, which the Reds and Indians share each spring. It’s their time in the sun — and, yes, the sun was bright, if the temperature, 65, wasn’t that warm.

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©2017 The San Francisco Examiner

Newsday (N.Y.): Willie Mays, still a much-welcomed presence at Giants camp

By Art Spander
Special to Newsday

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The eyes aren’t what they used to be, which is understandable, and to Willie Mays understandably frustrating. “I can’t see the ball,” he said when watching baseball. Then as if to remind us of skills once magical, he adds, “but I know where it’s going.”

Where Mays, 85, goes down here late mornings is to a table near a doorway in the San Francisco Giants spring training clubhouse. He can be found, bundled in a warm-up jacket, sitting, signing and ruminating.

Read the full story here.

Copyright © 2017 Newsday. All rights reserved.

SportsXchange: Johnson rolls to Genesis Open win, grabs No. 1 ranking

By Art Spander
SportsXchange

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — So many negatives for Dustin Johnson, the collapse at the 2010 U.S. Open, the six months away from golf for "personal issues" — was it a suspension for cocaine? — the three-putt bogey at the 72nd hole that kept him out of a playoff for the 2015 U.S. Open. 

What was wrong with the guy? So much talent. So many near misses. So much criticism about his personal life. 

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2017 SportsXchange 

SportsXchange: Johnson holds second-round lead at Genesis Open

By Art Spander
SportsXchange

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — The men who play the PGA Tour do some remarkable things. 

You know the slogan: "These guys are good." 

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2017 SportsXchange