The NOR CAL Report: July 2011: Episode 3 (with Brandon Belt, San Francisco Giants)

THE NOR CAL REPORT

July 2011: Episode 3 (with Brandon Belt, San Francisco Giants)

With more than 50,000 downloads, The NOR CAL Report the best portable show in Northern California! Subscribe on iTunes, like us on Facebook, and follow @jzitrin on Twitter. Keep bringing the comments, the love, and the downloads. Jess & Lex will be there with the insights, the info, and the one-of-a-kind interviews you love!

Welcome to an exciting NOR CAL Report! This week features a liquid ton of action, including this week's guest, Giants phenom Brandon Belt. It includes a trade deadline blockbuster and ends with labor peace for your local NFL playoff hopefuls — so let's get started!

The Giants have had to deal with injuries and disappointments all year, and have managed enough magic (and, yes, pitching) to stay comfortably atop the West. Now when pundits question the bats, six-time All-Star Carlos Beltran will answer. Is Carlos the missing link that leads the Giants to an unfathomable back-to-back title run?

Don't look now, but the Oakland A's are playing some good ball. They're even hitting! So without the splashy deadline deal, just what has made this team start to tick — and could it be enough?

The Earthquakes, too, have been looking to get points on the board. They have to, in order to compete in the West. Problem is, a point a night in the standings probably won't get it done...

The Raiders go into the season high on Hue, and ready to get one of the league's better offenses rolling. Lex is on the spot with a bold prediction for their 2011 success — or failure? BREAKING NEWS:

And the 49ers put Jess to the test, as he, too, predicts a surprising finish for the Red and Gold. Two questions: (1) Can Coach Harbaugh really make fillet mignon out of Alex Smith and a rookie backup? And, (2) are you really doubting Coach Harbaugh?

There's no doubt where to go for all your sports news and notes — it's always The NOR CAL Report!

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BREAKING NEWS: Zach Miller leaves the nation for Seattle!!!!

So what can we say for sure about Carlos Beltran? Well, his skill set is as complete as almost any in the game. And, in waiving his no trade clause, the quiet star makes it clear he wants to play for a contender...

Around the N.L., what's the antidote to the Beltran deal? In a word, Hunter Pence. The Phillies and Giants are starting to look a lot like two teams who make moves with each other in mind. If the Phils land the Astros star, all bets are off — and if this year's NLCS is anything like last year's, the World Series had better watch out...

With the NFL back in swing, it's time to assess what the local teams can do about the dumps they play in. Certainly the league would like some new brick and mortar — even (or, especially!) if it means Gold and Silver joining forces in an (almost) unprecedented relationship. Former 49ers guru Carmen Policy, now working as a lobbyist for an interested developer, is sure he's got the vision, if someone would just open the door...

With the NFL's labor situation suddenly resolved, it's time to fight over money in the NBA (not to mention the morons in Congress, where... oh, skip it!) Among the local teams, will Warriors players play overseas, go into other business, or simply work out and wait? A few Wa's have already come up with some interesting answers... now, here's hoping it's all just academic!

We're always looking for an edge — on The NOR CAL Report!