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Bum Night For Bumgarner

Published

10 years ago

April 29, 2014

This was probably his worst outing in his career this season. Madison Bumgarner struggled to start the game and never really found his command. Twice he loaded the bases in the first and fourth innings but managed to get out of the jam.

However, he was unable to contain Rene Rivera who drove in a career-high five runs that led to the San Diego Padres 6-4 victory over the Giants. Bumgarner tossed five innings allowing five runs all from Rivera. He drove in a two-run double in the fourth before adding a three-run homer in the fifth.

“Once I was going down to first base,” Rivera said. “I saw that [Angel] Pagan was going back and back… I realized that it was gone. It’s a good feeling and its good for the team. We need this one and hopefully a lot more to come.”

In the first frame, Everth Cabrera led off the first with a single ground ball to second baseman Brandon Hicks, deflected by first baseman Brandon Belt. Carbrera was safe at first and two outs later Bumgarner walked two to load the bases but luckily he got out of the jam by striking out Alexi Amarista.

“Something felt a little off (mechanically),” Bumgarner said. “I’ll have to go back to see if I can figure it out. My command wasn’t very good and that always makes it tough to get out and give the team chances to win, when you can’t throw strikes or get it where you want it.”

“I think it’s fair to say he made a few more mistakes than we’re accustomed to,” said manager Bruce Bochy. “He left some pitches over the plate and had trouble getting the ball where he wanted. Your going to go through skids.”

The Padres opened up their offense in the fourth. Tommy Medica reached first on a fielding error by shortstop Brandon Crawford. Bumgarner then surrendered two back-to-back doubles which included Rivera’s two-run double down the left field line giving San Diego a 2-0 lead.

The Giants responded bottom of the fourth with huge hits from both Hunter Pence and Michael Morse. Angel Pagan led off the frame with a single, Pence followed with a RBI triple and Morse’s 2-run single put San Francisco up 3-2. Morse leads the team with 19 RBI’s in the month of April and had a season-high three hits tonight.

Unfortunately, the Padres would not go away quietly. Rivera’s three-run homer put San Diego back in the league in the fifth. And top of the ninth Will Venable led off the inning with a double and Amarista reached first on a fielder’s choice fielded by second baseman Brandon Hicks scoring in Venable.

Hicks blasted a solo home run in the fifth, his fourth home run this season, which is a career-high. He’s now homered in back-to-back games for the first time in his career. Yesterday Hicks won Sunday’s game with a walk-off homer. Pablo Sandoval and Belt continue to struggle offensively getting on base. Sandoval went 0-for-4, his batting average dropped to .172 and Belt got on base with just a walk.

“It’s a work in progress,” Bochy said referring to both Sandoval and Belt. “Our corner guys are going to have to get going for us to have success and put runs on the board.”

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How to Use Credit Wisely

(NewsUSA) – As the holiday season approaches, more people are out shopping, searching crowded stores and online promotions for the best discounts, and using their credit cards to pay for it all. But beware the financial dangers of credit use — how you pay for these deals could safeguard your budget or lead to debt. […]
The post How to Use Credit Wisely first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

4 days ago

November 24, 2023

Oakland Post

A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professional can help you guard against costly credit mistakes, paving the way for a financially sound festive season and beyond. Learn more about how to use credit in a way that works for you with the insights below.

Choose Your Credit Card Wisely

Whether you’re shopping for holiday gifts or purchasing necessities like groceries, the credit card you use can make a big difference. There are several factors to consider:

Interest Rates. Rates generally run from 21-33%. The standard bank card charges at the low end of the range, and retailer credit cards (those typically with the store’s name on them) charge as much as 33%.
Cash Back. Among the best deals are bank cards that offer cash back ranging from 1-4% of your purchase.
Rewards Points. Some cards have rewards programs where you earn points that you can redeem for products or services. They may seem attractive but are worthwhile only if you’re actually interested in the rewards offered.
Cash Discounts. While retailer credit cards have the highest rates, some offer big cash discounts at the point of purchase. That may be the only time they’re worth using.

Improving Your Credit Score

Boosting your credit score can help you qualify for the lowest available interest rates on auto loans, personal loans and mortgages. If you can, pay the full balance when your credit card bill arrives. But most importantly, never miss a payment. Paying on time not only avoids late fees, but also is a key factor in improving your credit score. The easy way to ensure timely payment is to set up automatic online payments.

A CFP^®professional can help you develop other strategies to save money while improving your credit profile, including the following:

Identifying which debt to pay down first.
Switching to balance transfer cards that don’t charge interest for a year or longer.
Converting high-interest debt with interest payments that are not tax-deductible to lower-interest debt whose interest payments are tax-deductible.

Establishing Credit

Lenders offer credit to people with a long and reliable credit history. Most young adults don’t have one. There are various ways to obtain credit, but steer clear of debit cards that claim they can help you build a credit history. When you consider the costs and requirements, they’re usually no bargain. You have better and cheaper options for establishing credit. Here are three of them:

Get a secured credit card.
If you have a student loan, make sure you’re up-to-date with payments.
If you pay rent, ask your landlord to report your on-time payments to the credit bureaus.

The choices we make in managing credit can have a lasting impact on our financial journey. As you navigate the complex credit landscape, remember that CFP^® professionals can offer tailored guidance for your unique circumstances. Whether it’s identifying strategic debt payments, exploring balance transfer options or establishing credit responsibly, a CFP^® professional can provide a roadmap for achieving your financial goals. Find a CFP^® professional today.

The post How to Use Credit Wisely first appeared on BlackPressUSA.