The NOR CAL Report: June, 2011 - Episode 1 (with Miguel Tejada, San Francisco Giants)

THE NOR CAL REPORT

June, 2011 - Episode 1 (with Miguel Tejada, San Francisco Giants)

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Welcome to an all-new NOR CAL Report! This week, it's a baseball bonanza, as Bay Area great Miguel Tejada sits in for a spell. Miggy's seen it all in Nor Cal sports, and shares some favorite memories. Plus, there's plenty more NOR CAL news:

The Giants have lost their talisman, as Buster recovers at home — yet they're anything but out of mojo. Can the first place squad hold it down? And can this week's guest fight through his slump to lead them to glory?

The wheels have come off the A's, as they've lost nine straight and could be the first to axe a manager in '11. You may think your tough, but ask yourself: could you fire your own best man? BREAKING NEWS: BILLY BEANE MUST HAVE LISTENED TO THE SHOW HE HAS FIRED BOB GEREN!!! Bob Melvin will replace Geren on an Interim basis...

The Warriors have hired a new head man; can Coach Mark Jackson make the difference for the beleaguered franchise?

And don't look now, but the Earthquakes haven't lost since April. What's it take to climb the ladder in the West?

Played: 194 | Download | Duration: 00:32:36

UP NEXT: The A's hope to pull out of it with their new skipper Bob Melvin at the helm, while the Giants look to pull away. Plus, more on the Quakes' surge and the Warriors coaching turnover.

The NOR CAL Blog:

All the latest info, anecdotes and opinions from the Report's own Jess Zitrin and Lex Gopnik.

Here is a little background on new A's Manager Bob Melvin:

Melvin is a Bay Area native, he graduated from Menlo-Atherton High in Menlo Park in 1979 and later attended and played baseball at the University of California in Berkeley.

He previously managed the Mariners (156-168) and D-backs (337-340) and was named National League Manager of the Year after piloting Arizona to a league-best 90-72 mark and the NL West Division title in 2007. Melvin will be the 29th manager in franchise history and 18th since the team moved to Oakland from Kansas City in 1968.

I'm very happy that Billy Beane was able to make this happen, must have been one of the hardest decisions he's ever had to make (firing the best man at your wedding), but in the end it had to happen. Now the real question is how will this young team react to the change??? According to a report about manager changes during a MLB season the A's fortunes may be looking up at least a little bit. More information and analysis on next weeks program....

Some of the unforeseen consequences of an injury as serious as Report guest Buster Posey's? He actually has to move houses, as his current home has a few too many stairs. A few of you have asked me whether he might make it back by the end of the season, but I promise you: Buster and the G-Men will be pleased if he can be ready... for spring training...

Wondering, like Lex, whether Mark Jackson having no head coaching experience leaves him oh-too-vulnerable to the Warriors Curse? You may be right. But remember two things: #1, he huddled with an incredible five Hall Of Fame head coaches (Lou Carnesecca, Lenny Wilkens, Jerry Sloan, Pat Riley, and Larry Brown) and had more assists than Magic Johnson. Not bad, for a young team that revolves around its point guard Steph Curry...

Saying the 'Quakes never won in April, but haven't lost since... is a lot more interesting than saying they're 4-4-and-4. But dang, for a team that's outscored its competition this year, can't we do any better than eighth place out of nine? Answer: yes. Look for the schedule to balance out in the second half. Says here, if the new-look 'Quakes are still kickin', they'll be in the playoffs.

We're always ahead of the pack — on The NOR CAL Report!