Bay Area Buzz 10/14: 49ers Win, Giants Set for Game 3, Chip Hale
Bay Area Topics
49ers Win
"For Colin Kaepernick, it was just another magic Monday.Two years after Kaepernick introduced himself to the NFL with a scintillating performance on Monday Night Football, he offered even more evidence that, unlike most of the American workforce, he loves laboring on the first day of the week.On Monday night, Kaepernick tossed three touchdowns in a 15-minute span to rally the 49ers from a 14-point, second-quarter deficit in a 31-17 win over the Rams that was sealed by a 20-yard interception return for a score by cornerback Dontae Johnson with one minute left.The 49ers (4-2) scored 24 straight points thanks to Kaepernick, who completed 22 of 36 passes for 343 yards with three touchdowns. Perhaps it’s something about Monday nights? Kaepernick has thrown nine touchdowns and no interceptions in four MNF starts. His record: 4-0. His passer rating: 124.6.At the Edward Jones Dome, Kaepernick had the longest completion of his career (80 yards) his second-highest passing yardage total and added 37 yards on three carries."
–Eric Branch, San Francisco Chronicle
Giants Set for Game 3
"Tim Hudson is starting for the San Francisco Giants, in Game Three of the National League Championship Series, Tuesday night at AT&T Park, the first time he has ever made an appearance in this event in his distinguished career. After posting a win/loss record this season, that is below the .500 mark for the first time over the course of an entire season, what might fans expect from this All-Star performer, yearning to pitch in his first world series?Expect Hudson to perform in like manner to his vintage start against Washington in the National League Division Series. Facing Jordan Zimmerman and the National League’s best team, the Washington Nationals, in the chilly fall night, all Hudson did was hurl seven-and-a-third innings of one-run ball, allowing seven hits, and striking out eight. He did not walk a batter.…It is safe to assume that the bullpen session with Righetti, was successful, based on Hudson’s start in Washington. One stellar start, does not guarantee anything, but it bodes well. It is also safe to assume that Tim Hudson still has a very strong desire to pitch on baseball’s greatest stage. Combine these two elements, along with everything else in the Giants’ chemistry beaker, and expect a reaction that produces a victory for the Giants, and satisfaction for Tim Hudson."
–Mark O’Neill, Around the Foghorn
Chip Hale
"Chip Hale, bench coach for the Oakland Athletics, has been offered the vacant manager position for the Arizona Diamondbacks.Hale, who spent most of his major league career with the Minnesota Twins, is the most recent in a growing list of A’s associates that have made their way to the Diamondbacks following Tony LaRussa and Dave Stewart. Upon Dave Stewart’s acceptance of the general manager position, Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson, famous for hitting a homerun off of Dennis Eckersley in game 1 of the 1988 world series which featured La Russa and Stewart, was fired.For Chip Hale, this is a return to Arizona. During Bob Melvin‘s tenure as the Diamondbacks manager, Hale acted as a coach and had previously managed their AAA affiliate where he was named Pacific Coast League manager of the year. Hale was signed by the Athletics in 2011, coming from the New York Mets, and preceded his former manager to Oakland. The 49 year old San Jose native is also an alum of the University of Arizona and spends much of his time in Arizona during the off season.…It has not been announced by the Oakland Athletics who will replace Chip Hale as the bench coach. The most obvious candidate for the job is their current hitting coach Chili Davis. Rumors have circulated that the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees were interested in having Davis coach for them. Davis has said nothing publicly about a possible east coast migration but one would have to assume that a promotion to bench coach in Oakland would at least make him reconsider such a move. To lose both Chili and Chip in the same year would surely drive up the value of those platters we all got last year!"