SF Examiner: Giants on right trajectory

By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

The season is far from ideal. There’s that Timmy thing, and the Los Angeles Dodgers are still in front of the division. But now the Giants have hitting and speed, and with the season still four months from conclusion, they very well could finish where everyone thought they would: in first.

Melky Cabrera breaking a record by Willie Mays — and who ever imagined those names would be linked?

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2012 SF Newspaper Company

RealClearSports: Serena's Early Exit Simply Shocking

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

Even as it was unfolding, even as the balance tipped and Serena Williams went from winner to loser, it seemed unbelievable. Serena Williams doesn’t fall apart. Serena Williams doesn’t lose first-round matches in Grand Slams.

Serena is a finisher, not someone who gets finished.

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2012

Newsday (N.Y.): Jeter passes Brett, moves into 14th place on hits list

By Art Spander
Special to Newsday

OAKLAND, Calif. -- George Brett is in the rearview mirror and Cal Ripken is up ahead. Not that Derek Jeter is looking in either direction.

Jeter began Sunday's game against the A's with a line-drive single to left. It was the 3,155th hit of his career, 14th best in history, and moved him ahead of Brett. Ripken is in 13th place with 3,184.

Read the full story here.

Copyright © 2012 Newsday. All rights reserved.

Newsday (N.Y.): A's can't get Manny Ramirez back soon enough

By Art Spander
Special to Newsday

OAKLAND, Calif. -- He's not far away, about 90 miles up Interstate 80 in Sacramento. That doesn't seem like much, but the distance Manny Ramirez still has to cover until he's back in the majors -- if, indeed, he ever gets there -- is greater than it appears.

Ramirez is playing for the Triple-A River Cats, the top farm team of the Oakland Athletics, as he regains his timing and waits for Wednesday -- his 40th birthday, by the way -- which will represent the end of a second 50-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs.

Read the full story here.

Copyright © 2012 Newsday. All rights reserved.

Newsday (N.Y.): CC Sabathia puts on good show for his fans

By Art Spander
Special to Newsday

OAKLAND, Calif. -- It wasn't as if the whole city was here. Vallejo's population is about 116,000. But CC Sabathia had purchased enough tickets -- 200 for family and friends from his hometown, a half-hour northeast of O.co Coliseum -- to fill an area of the rightfield stands.

His own rooting section, if you will, and once Sabathia was able to control his pitches Saturday, he gave them a show and helped the Yankees earn a 9-2 victory over the A's.

Read the full story here.

Copyright © 2012 Newsday. All rights reserved.