mercurynews--2020-07-20--Former Raider Charles Woodson on COVID-19 safety: ‘There’s a lot of defiant people out there’

Talked with Charles Woodson Thursday while putting together a story on the issues of opening training camp during the coronavirus pandemic .
As usual , Woodson ’ s answers were honest and direct , enough so that I ’ ll post the entire interview : Q : What would be your concerns if still playing ?
Woodson : I think really the concern is that when it comes to football , it ’ s a contact sport .
There ’ s no getting around that particular fact .
You ’ re talking about your guys in training camp , 60 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and everybody is out there competing , competing for positions .
You end up being in close contact , especially with your group .
I ’ m quite sure initially quarterbacks will be with the quarterbacks , safeties with safeties , and you can kind of keep everybody at a safe distance .
But as you get together as a team , you ’ ve got linemen down there together .
There ’ s not six feet apart distance-wise from the linemen .
It ’ s about the proximity of players to players @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you get around that in a game like that .
Q : But if you ’ re competing against players who are tested and infection free , what ’ s the concern ?
Woodson : Well , the issue is everybody goes home .
I haven ’ t heard anything about having a bubble like the NBA having everybody in one particular place the whole entire time , the whole entire camp .
I ’ m not sure if they ’ ve discussed it or looked into it .
You think about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you , those people go home as well .
You might come in and be infection free , but who knows what happens during the course of a day ?
Q : Tim Brown said a concern is you don ’ t know who ’ s been outside the ‘ bubble ’ .
.
.
Woodson : That ’ s the thing .
I think right now everybody ’ s in the hope stage .
Everybody wants football of course .
But you ’ re just hoping they can kind of go through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this virus is around the league , but I think it ’ s kind of far-fetched right now for that to happen with the way that it ’ s kind of run rampant .
It ’ s up to the people of the country to really to do their part .
The simplest thing that they could ask us to do is wear a mask or try to social distance and there ’ s a lot of defiant people out there .
It goes back to like when you ’ re growing up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man , you ’ re going to mess it up for everybody.
’ You just hope that people around the country adhere to the guidelines and we don ’ t go backwards .
Q : There ’ s a longstanding mentality of NFL players to push through while sick or injured .
How is this virus different than an injury or illness ?
Woodson : I think this is different because of the global aspect of it , what this virus has really done to the whole world .
No one ever thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that would affect the whole entire world .
So I think guys think of it in that sense .
But it ’ s funny , before this , I remember playing and you may be sick , but you still had to come in to work .
The doctor still wanted to see you and help you out and give you whatever medicine you needed .
But with this one , you ’ re supposed to be quarantined for 14 days and basically stay away .
Guys are used to coming to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ especially when you talk about the flu , which has been around forever .
Plenty of guys have been at work , and they ’ re coughing and sneezing and they had the flu .
But they were at work .
This is just totally different because of the affect and the amount of deaths that have hit us because of COVID .
Q : If the NFL has an opt-out where players can sit out the season , would those who don ’ t be looked down upon for not having a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ view them differently ?
Woodson : I think people have respect for the time that we ’ re in .
This is a deadly disease and it ’ s new .
We don ’ t know a whole lot about it .
Every day , every week , our knowledge of it grows , then it seems like the more we know the less we know .
I think there are a lot of people who are frightened .
I haven ’ t had people around me that I know that have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but I ’ m sure there are some players some players somewhere that do .
They know what it does to you and they know that particular person got sick and they couldn ’ t even go around them because they didn ’ t want to pass it on to them .
It touches everybody differently , but I would hope the leagues would respect the players ’ decision by opting out if that ’ s an option .
Q : Would the younger Charles Woodson have a different idea about playing than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yes , because as a younger Charles Woodson I wouldn ’ t care too much about going home and being around whoever because it was just me , playing and living by myself for the most part .
I wouldn ’ t really trip .
But you grow , you get married , have two boys .
You ’ re going to work , coming home and all day long you ’ re around people who also go home to their families and are around whoever they are around at home .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process for an older Charles Woodson than with a younger Charles Woodson .
Q : You toured the Raiders new stadium in Las Vegas .
What do you think about the new place ?
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Just going around it and seeing it in its final stages was awesome .
As soon as you walk through there , your mind just goes to , ` Wait ’ till this place is filled with fans.
’ That ’ s why I just mentioned why we ’ re in a hopeful stage right now .
I ’ m hoping that we can have football , hopeful that we can have the fans in the stadium , because everybody loves the energy of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a beautiful stadium and I just think they did an outstanding job and I can ’ t wait for anyone who was an Oakland fan , or player to get into that stadium and really enjoy it the way they ’ re supposed to .
Q : The Patriots are going to allow 20 percent capacity — 13,000 fans in a 65,000 seat stadium — how strange would that be ?
Woodson : Very strange .
Because it comes down to who do you pick ?
You start picking certain fans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve heard that Mark Davis is not a fan of that , picking and choosing who comes to the games .
And I get that .
How do you do that ?
Maybe you change that 20 percent every week , incorporate it that way , but that ’ s a tough pill to swallow for the fans who are so eager to get into the stadium and support their team and to know you got picked over for whatever reason .

Talked with Charles Woodson Thursday while putting together a story on the issues of opening training camp during the coronavirus pandemic.
As usual, Woodson’s answers were honest and direct, enough so that I’ll post the entire interview:
Q: What would be your concerns if still playing?
Woodson: I think really the concern is that when it comes to football, it’s a contact sport. There’s no getting around that particular fact. You’re talking about your guys in training camp, 60, 70 guys or whatever it is and everybody is out there competing, competing for positions. You end up being in close contact, especially with your group. I’m quite sure initially quarterbacks will be with the quarterbacks, safeties with safeties, and you can kind of keep everybody at a safe distance. But as you get together as a team, you’ve got linemen down there together. There’s not six feet apart distance-wise from the linemen. It’s about the proximity of players to players and I don’t know how you get around that in a game like that.
Q: But if you’re competing against players who are tested and infection free, what’s the concern?
Woodson: Well, the issue is everybody goes home. I haven’t heard anything about having a bubble like the NBA having everybody in one particular place the whole entire time, the whole entire camp. I’m not sure if they’ve discussed it or looked into it. You think about the staff and other people who are around you, those people go home as well. You might come in and be infection free, but who knows what happens during the course of a day?
Q: Tim Brown said a concern is you don’t know who’s been outside the ‘bubble’ . . .
Woodson: That’s the thing. I think right now everybody’s in the hope stage. Everybody wants football of course. But you’re just hoping they can kind of go through it and be infection-free as far as this virus is around the league, but I think it’s kind of far-fetched right now for that to happen with the way that it’s kind of run rampant. It’s up to the people of the country to really to do their part. The simplest thing that they could ask us to do is wear a mask or try to social distance and there’s a lot of defiant people out there. It goes back to like when you’re growing up and you say, `Hey, man, you’re going to mess it up for everybody.’ You just hope that people around the country adhere to the guidelines and we don’t go backwards.
Q: There’s a longstanding mentality of NFL players to push through while sick or injured. How is this virus different than an injury or illness?
Woodson: I think this is different because of the global aspect of it, what this virus has really done to the whole world. No one ever thought that we would have something like this that would affect the whole entire world. So I think guys think of it in that sense. But it’s funny, before this, I remember playing and you may be sick, but you still had to come in to work. The doctor still wanted to see you and help you out and give you whatever medicine you needed. But with this one, you’re supposed to be quarantined for 14 days and basically stay away. Guys are used to coming to work, playing through just about anything, especially when you talk about the flu, which has been around forever. Plenty of guys have been at work, and they’re coughing and sneezing and they had the flu. But they were at work. This is just totally different because of the affect and the amount of deaths that have hit us because of COVID.
Q: If the NFL has an opt-out where players can sit out the season, would those who don’t be looked down upon for not having a play-through-it mentality? Would teams and management view them differently?
Woodson: I think people have respect for the time that we’re in. This is a deadly disease and it’s new. We don’t know a whole lot about it. Every day, every week, our knowledge of it grows, then it seems like the more we know the less we know. I think there are a lot of people who are frightened. I haven’t had people around me that I know that have been affected like that and have died, but I’m sure there are some players some players somewhere that do. They know what it does to you and they know that particular person got sick and they couldn’t even go around them because they didn’t want to pass it on to them. It touches everybody differently, but I would hope the leagues would respect the players’ decision by opting out if that’s an option.
Q: Would the younger Charles Woodson have a different idea about playing than the veteran Charles Woodson?
Woodson: Yes, because as a younger Charles Woodson I wouldn’t care too much about going home and being around whoever because it was just me, playing and living by myself for the most part. I wouldn’t really trip. But you grow, you get married, have two boys. You’re going to work, coming home and all day long you’re around people who also go home to their families and are around whoever they are around at home. It would definitely be a lot longer thought process for an older Charles Woodson than with a younger Charles Woodson.
Q: You toured the Raiders new stadium in Las Vegas. What do you think about the new place?
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Q: The Patriots are going to allow 20 percent capacity — 13,000 fans in a 65,000 seat stadium — how strange would that be?
Woodson: Very strange. Because it comes down to who do you pick? You start picking certain fans over other fans. I know that Mark Davis is not a fan of that, picking and choosing who comes to the games. And I get that. How do you do that? Maybe you change that 20 percent every week, incorporate it that way, but that’s a tough pill to swallow for the fans who are so eager to get into the stadium and support their team and to know you got picked over for whatever reason.


mercurynews--2020-07-20--Woman arrested for stabbing mother to death, seriously injuring brother in North Bay

A 26-year-old woman was arrested Sunday on suspicion of stabbing her 49-year-old mother to death and also stabbing her 24-year-old brother , who is in critical condition .
The daughter and mother , both from Louisiana , were visiting the injured man in Vallejo on the 100 block of Byron Street , when officers responded to a 911 call around 7:55 a.m .
The mother was transported to a Vallejo hospital where she was pronounced dead .
The suspect ’ s brother was located outside of the residence with multiple stab wounds , according to police , and was transported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also suffered from apparent stab wounds and is in stable condition .
The suspect , whose name is being withheld pending further investigation , was arrested for the murder of her mother and the attempted murder of her brother .
The Solano County Coroner ’ s Office will release the identity of the deceased , pending confirmation and notification of next of kin .
The identity of the male victim is also being withheld at this time .
Two children of the male victim , an infant and 3-year-old , were also located @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now safe with family .
A Vallejo Police Chaplain was called out to the scene to help provide comfort and support for the children and family of the involved parties .
This is Vallejo ’ s 15th murder of 2020 .
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Rose at 707-651-7146 and Detective J. Scott at 707-648-4531 .

A 26-year-old woman was arrested Sunday on suspicion of stabbing her 49-year-old mother to death and also stabbing her 24-year-old brother, who is in critical condition.
The daughter and mother, both from Louisiana, were visiting the injured man in Vallejo on the 100 block of Byron Street, when officers responded to a 911 call around 7:55 a.m.
The mother was transported to a Vallejo hospital where she was pronounced dead. The suspect’s brother was located outside of the residence with multiple stab wounds, according to police, and was transported to a local hospital.
The suspect also suffered from apparent stab wounds and is in stable condition.
The suspect, whose name is being withheld pending further investigation, was arrested for the murder of her mother and the attempted murder of her brother.
The Solano County Coroner’s Office will release the identity of the deceased, pending confirmation and notification of next of kin. The identity of the male victim is also being withheld at this time.
Two children of the male victim, an infant and 3-year-old, were also located inside the residence. The children are now safe with family. A Vallejo Police Chaplain was called out to the scene to help provide comfort and support for the children and family of the involved parties.
This is Vallejo’s 15th murder of 2020.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Rose at 707-651-7146 and Detective J. Scott at 707-648-4531.


mercurynews--2020-07-20--Marin research center and UCSF explores fat as coronavirus weapon

Scientists at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging in Novato are advocating for research to determine whether eating fatty foods could be protective for the coronavirus .
In an article published in the science journal Med , researchers at the institute and the University of California , San Francisco , assert that further investigation is warranted to discover if “ ketone bodies ” could serve as a possible therapeutic against COVID-19 and other viral infections such as influenza .
Ketone bodies are compounds produced naturally during fat metabolism .
Eating a ketogenic diet , which is high in fat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ production of the primary ketone beta-hydroxybutyrate acid ( BHB ) .
“ The article lays out the rationale putting puzzle pieces together to say this is an area of research we should be looking at , ” said John Newman , a Buck Institute professor who is one of the article ’ s authors .
Small clinical trials in humans have demonstrated that BHB can improve cardiac function in people with heart failure .
In the laboratory setting , BHB has also shown promise in treating type 2 diabetes and reducing harmful inflammation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be protective against tissue damage due to a lack of oxygen , which occurs in severe respiratory infections .
At John Hopkins University , doctors are about to test a ketogenic diet on a small group COVID-19 patients who have been intubated .
The hope is that the diet will reduce the systemic inflammation , known as a cytokine storm , that results in acute respiratory distress syndrome .
Noting the false claims for hydroxychloroquine made by President Trump , Newman is quick to acknowledge that there is no evidence that a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against COVID-19 .
Newman and Buck Institute CEO Eric Verdin , who also contributed to the article , are co-founders and shareholders in BHB Therapeutics , which is developing products related to ketone bodies .
In fact , he says there might be instances where BHB could promote viral replication of coronavirus .
Ketone bodies and the coronavirus both bind to some of the same proteins .
“ Most of them work in the direction that you would hypothesize that ketone bodies would be helpful , ” Newman said .
For example , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a protein that promotes inflammation .
“ Basic research shows that BHB directly inhibits the activation of the pro-inflammatory pathway NLRP3 , which is central to the disease pathogenesis of COVID-19 and is a likely contributor to the cytokine storm , ” Brianna Stubbs , a Buck researcher and the article ’ s lead author , wrote in a statement .
Newman , however , said , “ There is another protein that ketone bodies bind to , which has to do with how genes are expressed , and here ketone bodies turn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus.
” Newman said while a ketogenic diet is effective in addressing two major risks for heart disease , obesity and diabetes , many cardiologists still want to see more long-term study before endorsing its safety .
Newman said there is a common misunderstanding about what constitutes a healthy ketogenic diet .
“ People think it means , oh , I ’ m going to eat my steak and bacon and eggs , and it is going to be good for me , ” he said .
“ That is not the way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said a proper ketogenic diet should be mostly plant-based and include plenty of fish , healthy oils and low-carbohydrate vegetables .
“ It ’ s olive oil and kale , not bacon and eggs , ” Newman said .
One of the many things that scientists still don ’ t know about COVID-19 is why it has proven to be so much more lethal for people 65 and older .
“ I ’ ve been surprised that there hasn ’ t been more emphasis on understanding this aging link with COVID , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strategies exist for reducing the risk for heart disease , such as lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels .
• Former Raider Charles Woodson on COVID-19 safety : ‘ There ’ s a lot of defiant people out there ’ • Mayor Garcetti concedes that Los Angeles reopened too soon , as coronavirus surges “ But if we could prevent or reverse even 10 % of the age-related risk for heart disease that would be better than anything we have right now , and the same is true for COVID , ” Newman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatment that could reverse 10 % of the age-related risk , it would be a blockbuster.
” Newman notes that the Buck Institute is all about understanding why humans age on a molecular and cellular level and why age is a risk factor for disease .
“ We study how aging drives disease , ” he said .
“ Maybe we should be starting to look at how aging drives COVID-19 .
”

Scientists at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging in Novato are advocating for research to determine whether eating fatty foods could be protective for the coronavirus.
In an article published in the science journal Med, researchers at the institute and the University of California, San Francisco, assert that further investigation is warranted to discover if “ketone bodies” could serve as a possible therapeutic against COVID-19 and other viral infections such as influenza.
Ketone bodies are compounds produced naturally during fat metabolism. Eating a ketogenic diet, which is high in fat and low in carbohydrates, accelerates the production of the primary ketone beta-hydroxybutyrate acid (BHB).
“The article lays out the rationale putting puzzle pieces together to say this is an area of research we should be looking at,” said John Newman, a Buck Institute professor who is one of the article’s authors.
Small clinical trials in humans have demonstrated that BHB can improve cardiac function in people with heart failure. In the laboratory setting, BHB has also shown promise in treating type 2 diabetes and reducing harmful inflammation. Elevation of blood ketones have proved to be protective against tissue damage due to a lack of oxygen, which occurs in severe respiratory infections.
At John Hopkins University, doctors are about to test a ketogenic diet on a small group COVID-19 patients who have been intubated. The hope is that the diet will reduce the systemic inflammation, known as a cytokine storm, that results in acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Noting the false claims for hydroxychloroquine made by President Trump, Newman is quick to acknowledge that there is no evidence that a ketogenic diet is protective in any way against COVID-19. Newman and Buck Institute CEO Eric Verdin, who also contributed to the article, are co-founders and shareholders in BHB Therapeutics, which is developing products related to ketone bodies.
In fact, he says there might be instances where BHB could promote viral replication of coronavirus. Ketone bodies and the coronavirus both bind to some of the same proteins.
“Most of them work in the direction that you would hypothesize that ketone bodies would be helpful,” Newman said.
For example, BHB inhibits the activation of NLRP3, a protein that promotes inflammation.
“Basic research shows that BHB directly inhibits the activation of the pro-inflammatory pathway NLRP3, which is central to the disease pathogenesis of COVID-19 and is a likely contributor to the cytokine storm,” Brianna Stubbs, a Buck researcher and the article’s lead author, wrote in a statement.
Newman, however, said, “There is another protein that ketone bodies bind to, which has to do with how genes are expressed, and here ketone bodies turn on that protein and so does the virus.”
Newman said while a ketogenic diet is effective in addressing two major risks for heart disease, obesity and diabetes, many cardiologists still want to see more long-term study before endorsing its safety.
Newman said there is a common misunderstanding about what constitutes a healthy ketogenic diet.
“People think it means, oh, I’m going to eat my steak and bacon and eggs, and it is going to be good for me,” he said. “That is not the way it is supposed to be.”
Newman said a proper ketogenic diet should be mostly plant-based and include plenty of fish, healthy oils and low-carbohydrate vegetables.
“It’s olive oil and kale, not bacon and eggs,” Newman said.
One of the many things that scientists still don’t know about COVID-19 is why it has proven to be so much more lethal for people 65 and older.
“I’ve been surprised that there hasn’t been more emphasis on understanding this aging link with COVID,” Newman said.
He says that various strategies exist for reducing the risk for heart disease, such as lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
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Newman notes that the Buck Institute is all about understanding why humans age on a molecular and cellular level and why age is a risk factor for disease.
“We study how aging drives disease,” he said. “Maybe we should be starting to look at how aging drives COVID-19.”


mercurynews--2020-07-20--‘Never actually freed the slaves’: Kanye West criticizes Harriet Tubman at his political rally

By MEG KINNARD| The Associated Press COLUMBIA , S.C. — Rapper Kanye West , in his first event since declaring himself a presidential candidate , ranted against historical figure Harriet Tubman on Sunday , saying the Underground Railroad conductor “ never actually freed the slaves , she just had them work for other white people , ” comments that drew shouts of opposition from some in the crowd .
West delivered a lengthy monologue , touching on topics from abortion and religion to international trade and licensing deals , before a crowd in North Charleston , South Carolina .
Whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s highest office remains a question .
Tubman is one of the most respected figures of 19th century America .
An African American who escaped slavery , she helped enslaved Black men and women travel north to freedom and fought for the Union during the Civil War .
She later became a supporter of women ’ s suffrage .
On abortion , West said that while he believes it should be legal , financial incentives to help struggling mothers could be a way to discourage the practice .
“ Everybody that has a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said as an example .
Wearing a protective vest and with “ 2020 ” shaved into his head , the entertainer appeared on a livestream of the event .
Several hundred people gathered in a venue , where gospel music played before West ’ s appearance .
The event was reportedly for registered guests only , although a campaign website had no registration or RSVP information .
Speaking without a microphone , West became tearful at one point while talking about his mother , who died following plastic surgery complications in 2007 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be Hallmark holiday movies this year ?
• Princess Beatrice , daughter of Prince Andrew , marries in secret ceremony in front of Queen West missed the deadline to qualify for the ballot in several states , and it was unclear if he was willing or able to collect enough signatures required to qualify in others .
Last week , he qualified to appear on Oklahoma ’ s presidential ballot , the first state where he met the requirements before the filing deadline .
West needed to collect 10,000 signatures by noon Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to state law .
The entertainer tweeted out a list of locations around the Charleston area where petitions could be signed .
Email to an address purportedly associated with the campaign was not returned Sunday afternoon .
West , who is married to reality television star Kim Kardashian West , initially announced his candidacy on July 4 .

By MEG KINNARD| The Associated Press
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Rapper Kanye West, in his first event since declaring himself a presidential candidate, ranted against historical figure Harriet Tubman on Sunday, saying the Underground Railroad conductor “never actually freed the slaves, she just had them work for other white people,” comments that drew shouts of opposition from some in the crowd.
West delivered a lengthy monologue, touching on topics from abortion and religion to international trade and licensing deals, before a crowd in North Charleston, South Carolina. Whether he is actually seeking the nation’s highest office remains a question.
Tubman is one of the most respected figures of 19th century America. An African American who escaped slavery, she helped enslaved Black men and women travel north to freedom and fought for the Union during the Civil War. She later became a supporter of women’s suffrage.
On abortion, West said that while he believes it should be legal, financial incentives to help struggling mothers could be a way to discourage the practice.
“Everybody that has a baby gets a million dollars,” he said as an example.
Wearing a protective vest and with “2020” shaved into his head, the entertainer appeared on a livestream of the event. Several hundred people gathered in a venue, where gospel music played before West’s appearance.
The event was reportedly for registered guests only, although a campaign website had no registration or RSVP information.
Speaking without a microphone, West became tearful at one point while talking about his mother, who died following plastic surgery complications in 2007.
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West needed to collect 10,000 signatures by noon Monday to appear on the South Carolina ballot, according to state law. The entertainer tweeted out a list of locations around the Charleston area where petitions could be signed. Email to an address purportedly associated with the campaign was not returned Sunday afternoon.
West, who is married to reality television star Kim Kardashian West, initially announced his candidacy on July 4.


mercurynews--2020-07-20--Mayor Garcetti concedes that Los Angeles reopened too soon, as coronavirus surges

LOS ANGELES — Mayor Eric Garcetti conceded Sunday that Los Angeles reopened too quickly and again warned that the city was “ on the brink ” of new shutdown orders as the coronavirus continues to surge in California .
Appearing on CNN , Garcetti was asked about a Los Angeles Times editorial that criticized the rapid reopening of California , which was followed by a spike in new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations .
“ I do agree those things happened too quickly , ” Garcetti said , adding that the decisions were made at the state and county levels , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Los Angeles was “ on the brink ” of new widespread stay-at-home orders as LA County , with a quarter of California ’ s population , continued to see the state ’ s largest increase in confirmed coronavirus cases .
California reported on Saturday its fourth-highest daily total of newly confirmed coronavirus cases , with more than 9,000 .
The state also reported an additional 120 deaths .
Last week Garcetti said he wouldn ’ t hesitate to again shut down all but essential businesses .
Those comments came days after California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indoor dining statewide , and ordered closures of hair salons , gyms , malls and other indoor businesses in Los Angeles and other counties experiencing the most significant surge of virus cases .
Garcetti told CNN ’ s Jake Tapper on Sunday that Los Angeles currently has adequate hospital capacity a good supply of ventilators .
Los Angeles County reported a record-high number of COVID-19 patients in its hospitals last week , and the overall share of tests that have come back positive jumped from 8 % to nearly 10 % .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just to the reopenings , but also to people becoming less vigilant about following public health guidance and gathering with others outside their households .
“ It ’ s not just what ’ s open and closed , ” he said .
“ It ’ s also about what we do individually.
” Officials have reiterated that people must wear masks and maintain social distancing to slow the spread .
In other news about the outbreak in California : — Officials said a rare but serious and potentially deadly inflammatory syndrome believed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identified in 15 children in Los Angeles County .
Multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children , or MIS-C , can cause different parts of the body to become inflamed .
Symptoms include fever , vomiting , diarrhea , neck pain , rash , bloodshot eyes and exhaustion .
Of the children , 73 % were Latino , representing a disproportionate burden for the ethnic group , the Los Angeles Times reported .
— Merced County in central California has not conducted contact tracing for weeks , according to the Merced Sun-Star .
Kristyn Sullivan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said the county is now only doing case investigations — reaching out to infected people to tell them to quarantine , but not asking about their close contacts or all the places they ’ ve been recently .
She said that interviewing people about their contacts has become ineffective because there are too many cases .
CalMatters reached out to 27 California counties with rising infections to ask about their extent of contact tracing .
Merced was the only one that confirmed in June that it was no longer conducting it at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The other 21 said they were tracing most people or at least some .
— Napa County north of San Francisco will start fining people who don ’ t wear masks from $ 25 to $ 500 .
County supervisors last week passed an ordinance that would also impose fines of up to $ 5,000 for businesses that receive repeated complaints of people not wearing face coverings .
The citations are a last resort only for repeat offenders and will be issued by code enforcement employees , not law enforcement officers , @ @ @

LOS ANGELES — Mayor Eric Garcetti conceded Sunday that Los Angeles reopened too quickly and again warned that the city was “on the brink” of new shutdown orders as the coronavirus continues to surge in California.
Appearing on CNN, Garcetti was asked about a Los Angeles Times editorial that criticized the rapid reopening of California, which was followed by a spike in new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.
“I do agree those things happened too quickly,” Garcetti said, adding that the decisions were made at the state and county levels, not by city officials.
The mayor said Los Angeles was “on the brink” of new widespread stay-at-home orders as LA County, with a quarter of California’s population, continued to see the state’s largest increase in confirmed coronavirus cases.
California reported on Saturday its fourth-highest daily total of newly confirmed coronavirus cases, with more than 9,000. The state also reported an additional 120 deaths.
Last week Garcetti said he wouldn’t hesitate to again shut down all but essential businesses. Those comments came days after California Gov. Gavin Newsom shut bars and indoor dining statewide, and ordered closures of hair salons, gyms, malls and other indoor businesses in Los Angeles and other counties experiencing the most significant surge of virus cases.
Garcetti told CNN’s Jake Tapper on Sunday that Los Angeles currently has adequate hospital capacity a good supply of ventilators.
Los Angeles County reported a record-high number of COVID-19 patients in its hospitals last week, and the overall share of tests that have come back positive jumped from 8% to nearly 10%.
The mayor attributed the increase in spread not just to the reopenings, but also to people becoming less vigilant about following public health guidance and gathering with others outside their households.
“It’s not just what’s open and closed,” he said. “It’s also about what we do individually.”
Officials have reiterated that people must wear masks and maintain social distancing to slow the spread.
In other news about the outbreak in California:
— Officials said a rare but serious and potentially deadly inflammatory syndrome believed to be associated with the coronavirus has been identified in 15 children in Los Angeles County. Multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children, or MIS-C, can cause different parts of the body to become inflamed. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, neck pain, rash, bloodshot eyes and exhaustion. Of the children, 73% were Latino, representing a disproportionate burden for the ethnic group, the Los Angeles Times reported.
— Merced County in central California has not conducted contact tracing for weeks, according to the Merced Sun-Star. Kristyn Sullivan, the county’s supervising epidemiologist, said the county is now only doing case investigations — reaching out to infected people to tell them to quarantine, but not asking about their close contacts or all the places they’ve been recently. She said that interviewing people about their contacts has become ineffective because there are too many cases. CalMatters reached out to 27 California counties with rising infections to ask about their extent of contact tracing. Merced was the only one that confirmed in June that it was no longer conducting it at all, although six did not respond. The other 21 said they were tracing most people or at least some.
— Napa County north of San Francisco will start fining people who don’t wear masks from $25 to $500. County supervisors last week passed an ordinance that would also impose fines of up to $5,000 for businesses that receive repeated complaints of people not wearing face coverings. The citations are a last resort only for repeat offenders and will be issued by code enforcement employees, not law enforcement officers, KPIX-TV reported.


mercurynews--2020-07-20--Here are seven things you probably didn’t know were connected to slavery

As protesters across the United States continue calling for an end to police brutality and racial injustice , organizations are coming to terms with their racist histories .
Throughout the South , monuments and flags celebrating the Confederacy are being taken down .
Companies like Mars and Quaker Oats are planning to change or retire racist brand characters like Uncle Ben and Aunt Jemima .
And popular music groups such as Lady Antebellum and The Dixie Chicks — now Lady A and The Chicks — have changed their names .
But in a country where enslaved Black people were so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it ’ s impossible to stamp out every link to its painful history .
Slavery has marked everything from the US Capitol to the alcohol Americans consume .
Here are seven institutions that many people may not know are linked to slavery : One of the largest life insurance companies in the US has admitted that their predecessor company insured the lives of enslaved people for their owners .
In 2001 New York Life provided the New York Public Library its archival records containing insurance policies sold to slave owners .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , sold policies on the lives of enslaved persons between 1846-1848 , ” the company said on its website .
“ We have been open and transparent about this brief and regrettable period of our history , with the Nautilus sale of slave policies covered in news accounts and books dating back to 1895.
” Nautilus insured more than 500 people “ either identified as enslaved persons or from the records are likely to have been enslaved ” and paid the claims of 15 of those who died , according New York Life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our words and our actions for many years that our predecessor company ’ s involvement with slavery is a stain on our history that we can never forget .
We are committed to fostering a greater understanding of slavery in America and supporting the Black community , ” New York Life said on its website .
A company spokesperson told CNN that while New York Life can not change its history , its long-standing recognition of that history has helped shape its commitment to the Black community .
Amid racial injustice protests across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began trending in June .
It began with a bulletin on 4chan — the online message board that frequently features extremist content — according to the Yale Daily News .
It then gained steam after Jesse Kelly , host of the nationally syndicated show “ I ’ m Right with Jesse Kelly , ” tweeted that Yale University was named after slave trader Elihu Yale .
“ I call on @ Yale to change it ’ s name immediately and strip the name of Yale from every building , piece of paper , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ black people .
# CancelYale , ” Kelly ’ s tweet read .
While the motivation behind the hashtag may have been to troll liberals and cancel culture , there is some truth behind Yale ’ s namesake .
Elihu Yale was a slave trader who profited from the sale of human lives .
The school ’ s president told the Yale Daily News in June that there has been no consideration in changing the school ’ s name .
Yale has also launched the Yale Slavery and Abolition Portal to help researchers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to slavery , abolition and resistance.
” Yale has also addressed a building named after a leader who supported slavery .
In 2017 , after months of campus protests , the school changed the name of one of its undergraduate residential colleges to Grace Hopper College from Calhoun College , named after John C. Calhoun , a white supremacist who called slavery a “ positive good.
” Many US universities also have ties to slavery .
Harvard and Princeton had presidents who owned enslaved people .
At public universities like the University of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University of Virginia , enslaved people worked on campus or helped build campuses .
Some schools , like Georgetown University , sold enslaved people to pay off debts and keep the school running .
CSX Transportation owns a railroad that was built by enslaved people .
The Richmond , Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad in Virginia — acquired by CSX in 2003 — owned and hired enslaved Black people from 1834 , when it was chartered , until the end of the Civil War in 1865 , according to The Virginia Museum of History @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nation ’ s deep remorse for the shameful institution of slavery and racial discrimination that has occurred in the country , ” Cindy Schild , a CSX spokeswoman , told CNN in an email .
“ CSX opposes any form of discrimination and is committed to raising awareness regarding racial disparities.
” That ’ s right , even alcohol is connected to slavery .
Though Jack Daniel never owned enslaved people , he did learn to make whiskey in Tennessee from an enslaved person named Nathan “ Nearest ” Green , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the company .
Daniel bought the business from the minister , then hired Green as his first head distiller .
The New York Times shed light on Green ’ s story in 2016 .
Since then , Uncle Nearest , a new whiskey brand honoring Green , has emerged .
The whiskey is an “ all minority-led business , ” according to its website .
Svend Jansen , a Jack Daniel ’ s spokesperson , told CNN the company has “ known and been public about the special relationship between Jack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it is a common story in Lynchburg , ( Tennessee ) .
” Several of Green ’ s children and grandchildren eventually worked for Jack Daniel ’ s Whiskey , Jansen said .
Jack Daniel ’ s installed a Nearest Green exhibit at its visitor center in March 2018 , Jansen said .
“ We continue to be thoughtful regarding other ways to honor the story of Nearest , ” he said .
Before Wall Street became the world ’ s largest stock exchange , the location thrived as a slave market @ @ @ @ @ @ @ JSTOR Daily , a digital library .
In 2015 , New York Mayor Bill de Blasio commemorated a marker to the enslaved people who laid the foundation for Wall Street .
“ This place reminds of us of one of the worst chapters in our history , ” de Blasio said at the time .
“ Three-hundred-four years ago , with the approval of the city government , this became a place for buying and selling and renting human beings.
” New York City ’ s first lady , Chirlane McCray , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and its slave market was rivaled only by the market in Charleston , South Carolina .
“ You could come here any day and see it happening and somehow it was considered normal in this city .
It continued elsewhere in the city for close to 80 years more , ” de Blasio said .
The White House and US Capitol Building Former First Lady Michelle Obama caused a stir in 2016 when she said enslaved people built the White House .
She wasn ’ t wrong .
Construction on the original White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to import European workers to help build the structure , but recruitment didn ’ t go as planned so they turned to Black people , free and enslaved , according to the White House Historical Association .
The US Capitol building was also constructed with the labor of enslaved people .
The building ’ s construction started in 1793 .
Like with the White House , officials struggled to find skilled labor so they turned to enslaved people , who were often rented from owners .
Congress unveiled a marker in 2012 honoring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to the Architect of the Capitol .
“ So when you see that slave labor was used on the Capitol and White House , it ’ s not just about the personal relationships between the founders and slavery , it ’ s about a national and institutional matter that the government itself was involved in slavery , ” said Adam Rothman , a Georgetown University history professor who specializes in slavery .
After Obama ’ s 2016 comments , the White House Historical Association began aggressively researching slavery and its relationship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said Matthew Costello , a senior historian at the historical association .
The research helped form the website “ Slavery in the President ’ s Neighborhood , ” which launched in February .
“ We have to give those people their voices back .
Historically speaking , people are interested in presidents and first ladies , but what about behind those closed doors ?
Who are the people that really make the White House function and operate ?
” Costello told CNN .
Though George Washington ’ s ties to slavery are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those connections may surprise some .
Though folklore depicts Washington with wooden teeth , there ’ s no evidence to support that claim , according to historian Alexis Coe , who wrote the best-selling biography “ You Never Forget Your First : A Biography of George Washington.
” • Coronavirus backlash triggers wave of progressive activism from Asian Americans in Southern California • Coronavirus , racial justice drove this Bay Area safety net veteran out of retirement to oversee Medi-Cal The first president ’ s mouth , Coe said , was full of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enslaved people .
Washington paid the enslaved people an under-market rate for their teeth , Coe said .
Coe said Washington also signed the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 , which allowed enslavers to arrest fugitive enslaved people and reclaim them as property .
“ The propensity to put Washington on a pedestal does us no favors , ” Coe said .
“ It keeps us removed from the man himself , because it ’ s a dishonest reading of his life .
”

As protesters across the United States continue calling for an end to police brutality and racial injustice, organizations are coming to terms with their racist histories.
Throughout the South, monuments and flags celebrating the Confederacy are being taken down. Companies like Mars and Quaker Oats are planning to change or retire racist brand characters like Uncle Ben and Aunt Jemima. And popular music groups such as Lady Antebellum and The Dixie Chicks — now Lady A and The Chicks — have changed their names.
But in a country where enslaved Black people were so essential in its rise to global power, it’s impossible to stamp out every link to its painful history. Slavery has marked everything from the US Capitol to the alcohol Americans consume.
Here are seven institutions that many people may not know are linked to slavery:
New York Life Insurance Company
One of the largest life insurance companies in the US has admitted that their predecessor company insured the lives of enslaved people for their owners.
In 2001 New York Life provided the New York Public Library its archival records containing insurance policies sold to slave owners.
“Our predecessor company, Nautilus Insurance Company, sold policies on the lives of enslaved persons between 1846-1848,” the company said on its website. “We have been open and transparent about this brief and regrettable period of our history, with the Nautilus sale of slave policies covered in news accounts and books dating back to 1895.”
Nautilus insured more than 500 people “either identified as enslaved persons or from the records are likely to have been enslaved” and paid the claims of 15 of those who died, according New York Life.
“We have made clear through our words and our actions for many years that our predecessor company’s involvement with slavery is a stain on our history that we can never forget. We are committed to fostering a greater understanding of slavery in America and supporting the Black community,” New York Life said on its website.
A company spokesperson told CNN that while New York Life cannot change its history, its long-standing recognition of that history has helped shape its commitment to the Black community.
Yale University
Amid racial injustice protests across the country, the hashtag #CancelYale began trending in June. It began with a bulletin on 4chan — the online message board that frequently features extremist content — according to the Yale Daily News. It then gained steam after Jesse Kelly, host of the nationally syndicated show “I’m Right with Jesse Kelly,” tweeted that Yale University was named after slave trader Elihu Yale.
“I call on @Yale to change it’s name immediately and strip the name of Yale from every building, piece of paper, and merchandise. Otherwise, they hate black people. #CancelYale,” Kelly’s tweet read.
While the motivation behind the hashtag may have been to troll liberals and cancel culture, there is some truth behind Yale’s namesake. Elihu Yale was a slave trader who profited from the sale of human lives. The school’s president told the Yale Daily News in June that there has been no consideration in changing the school’s name.
Yale has also launched the Yale Slavery and Abolition Portal to help researchers and students “find primary sources related to slavery, abolition and resistance.”
Yale University turned down CNN requests for comment.
Yale has also addressed a building named after a leader who supported slavery. In 2017, after months of campus protests, the school changed the name of one of its undergraduate residential colleges to Grace Hopper College from Calhoun College, named after John C. Calhoun, a white supremacist who called slavery a “positive good.”
Many US universities also have ties to slavery. Harvard and Princeton had presidents who owned enslaved people. At public universities like the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Virginia, enslaved people worked on campus or helped build campuses. Some schools, like Georgetown University, sold enslaved people to pay off debts and keep the school running.
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation owns a railroad that was built by enslaved people.
The Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad in Virginia — acquired by CSX in 2003 — owned and hired enslaved Black people from 1834, when it was chartered, until the end of the Civil War in 1865, according to The Virginia Museum of History and Culture.
“The company shares the nation’s deep remorse for the shameful institution of slavery and racial discrimination that has occurred in the country,” Cindy Schild, a CSX spokeswoman, told CNN in an email. “CSX opposes any form of discrimination and is committed to raising awareness regarding racial disparities.”
Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey
That’s right, even alcohol is connected to slavery.
Though Jack Daniel never owned enslaved people, he did learn to make whiskey in Tennessee from an enslaved person named Nathan “Nearest” Green, who was owned by a Lutheran minister, according to the company.
Daniel bought the business from the minister, then hired Green as his first head distiller.
The New York Times shed light on Green’s story in 2016. Since then, Uncle Nearest, a new whiskey brand honoring Green, has emerged. The whiskey is an “all minority-led business,” according to its website.
Svend Jansen, a Jack Daniel’s spokesperson, told CNN the company has “known and been public about the special relationship between Jack Daniel and Nearest Green for many years and it is a common story in Lynchburg, (Tennessee).” Several of Green’s children and grandchildren eventually worked for Jack Daniel’s Whiskey, Jansen said.
Jack Daniel’s installed a Nearest Green exhibit at its visitor center in March 2018, Jansen said.
“We continue to be thoughtful regarding other ways to honor the story of Nearest,” he said.
Wall Street
Before Wall Street became the world’s largest stock exchange, the location thrived as a slave market between 1711 and 1762, according to JSTOR Daily, a digital library.
In 2015, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio commemorated a marker to the enslaved people who laid the foundation for Wall Street.
“This place reminds of us of one of the worst chapters in our history,” de Blasio said at the time. “Three-hundred-four years ago, with the approval of the city government, this became a place for buying and selling and renting human beings.”
New York City’s first lady, Chirlane McCray, said slavery built the foundation of the city and its slave market was rivaled only by the market in Charleston, South Carolina.
“You could come here any day and see it happening and somehow it was considered normal in this city. It continued elsewhere in the city for close to 80 years more,” de Blasio said.
The White House and US Capitol Building
Former First Lady Michelle Obama caused a stir in 2016 when she said enslaved people built the White House. She wasn’t wrong.
Construction on the original White House began in 1792. Officials planned to import European workers to help build the structure, but recruitment didn’t go as planned so they turned to Black people, free and enslaved, according to the White House Historical Association.
The US Capitol building was also constructed with the labor of enslaved people. The building’s construction started in 1793. Like with the White House, officials struggled to find skilled labor so they turned to enslaved people, who were often rented from owners. Congress unveiled a marker in 2012 honoring the enslaved people who built the Capitol, according to the Architect of the Capitol.
“So when you see that slave labor was used on the Capitol and White House, it’s not just about the personal relationships between the founders and slavery, it’s about a national and institutional matter that the government itself was involved in slavery,” said Adam Rothman, a Georgetown University history professor who specializes in slavery.
After Obama’s 2016 comments, the White House Historical Association began aggressively researching slavery and its relationship with US presidents and the White House, said Matthew Costello, a senior historian at the historical association.
The research helped form the website “Slavery in the President’s Neighborhood,” which launched in February.
“We have to give those people their voices back. Historically speaking, people are interested in presidents and first ladies, but what about behind those closed doors? Who are the people that really make the White House function and operate?” Costello told CNN.
George Washington
Though George Washington’s ties to slavery are fairly well known, the extent of those connections may surprise some.
Enslaved people formed part of Washington — literally.
Though folklore depicts Washington with wooden teeth, there’s no evidence to support that claim, according to historian Alexis Coe, who wrote the best-selling biography “You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington.”
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Biotech firm settles with family over cells for research Politics | Opinion: Reparations to Black Californians is now up to Newsom The first president’s mouth, Coe said, was full of the teeth of walruses, hippopotamuses and enslaved people. Washington paid the enslaved people an under-market rate for their teeth, Coe said.
Coe said Washington also signed the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793, which allowed enslavers to arrest fugitive enslaved people and reclaim them as property.
“The propensity to put Washington on a pedestal does us no favors,” Coe said. “It keeps us removed from the man himself, because it’s a dishonest reading of his life.”
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mercurynews--2020-07-20--Why Disneyland’s $1 billion Star Wars land isn’t a bust despite flat attendance

The old adage of “ if you build it , they will come ” didn ’ t pan out for Disneyland with the debut of the $ 1 billion Star Wars : Galaxy ’ s Edge as attendance at the Anaheim theme park remained flat in 2019 .
But while on the surface it may seem like Star Wars : Galaxy ’ s Edge was a bust , if you dig a little deeper you ’ ll realize that keeping attendance flat during the largest expansion in Disneyland ’ s history was all part of Disney ’ s larger strategy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million visitors in 2019 with annual visitorship also unchanged at Disney California Adventure at 9.9 million , according to the Themed Entertainment Association .
The annual TEA report looked at the 2019 calendar year before Disney shuttered all 12 of its theme parks around the globe amid the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 .
Before the opening of Galaxy ’ s Edge , news reports warned of massive crowds that would descend on Disneyland with the late May debut of the new Star Wars Land .
Soon after Galaxy ’ s Edge opened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the thin crowds that turned Disneyland into a “ ghost town.
” Those big crowds didn ’ t show up until the ballyhooed Rise of the Resistance trackless dark ride was unveiled in January — after the 2019 attendance figures had been calculated and before the coronavirus closure of Disneyland .
The Batuu East version of Galaxy ’ s Edge opened at Disney ’ s Hollywood Studios in late August , helping to boost 2019 attendance at the Florida park by a modest 2 % , according to the TEA report .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ combined $ 2 billion on Star Wars lands on both coasts to attract an additional 225,000 visitors at Disneyland and Disney ’ s Hollywood Studios in 2019 .
Disney World ’ s four parks draw a combined 320,000 visitors per day .
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter boosted attendance at Universal ’ s Islands of Adventure by 30 % in 2010 and 29 % in 2011 .
The Diagon Alley expansion next door at Universal Studios Florida brought attendance jumps of 17 % in 2014 and 16 % in 2015 .
Attendance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wizarding World West debuted at Universal Studios Hollywood .
Disney and Universal take decidedly different approaches to running their theme parks .
Universal likes to be the first and the biggest .
Disney strives to be the best and is willing to cautiously wait to get things right .
It turns out flat attendance following the grand opening of Galaxy ’ s Edge might be exactly what Disneyland wanted .
The two chief knocks on Disneyland that get delivered repeatedly like a one-two punch are that the park is too crowded and tickets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attendance at Disneyland in 2019 help combat the perception of a crowding problem .
An extra 14 acres carved out of backstage space for Galaxy ’ s Edge also increases the footprint of Disneyland — meaning more room for visitors and a less crowded park .
The extended coronavirus closure of the park is expected to lead to lower attendance at Disneyland for several years — a potential unintended benefit when it comes to crowding .
On the price side of the equation , Disneyland uses variable ticket pricing to help manage attendance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for admission on the slowest days and more on the busiest days .
The goal : Draw more visitors when attendance is light and fewer people when the park is crowded .
The result : More economy-minded visitors midweek and during the off-season and more well-heeled customers in the summer and on weekends and holidays .
Variable ticket pricing helps spread out the crowds more evenly across the entire calendar — with an eye toward drawing fewer visitors year over year but overall attracting bigger spenders with deeper pockets .
Disney ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at higher ticket prices for an improved “ guest experience ” that results in greater spending on food and merchandise and increased profits .
The plan is deceptively simple : Happier customers spend more .
And the objective is even simpler : Make Disneyland the happiest place on Earth .
Galaxy ’ s Edge certainly drew its fair share of fear-of-missing-out visitors to Disneyland .
The TEA attendance figures suggest the fear-of-big-crowds contingent may have decided to wait until all the excitement died down before checking out the new Star Wars land .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ visitors deferred visits until the delayed Rise of the Resistance attraction opened more than six months after the land .
But one thing is clear : Those FOMO fans and Star Wars die-hards dropped a lot of galactic credits on food , drinks and merchandise in the Black Spire Outpost village on the Star Wars planet of Batuu , the setting for Galaxy ’ s Edge .
Which helped drive up per capita spending at Disneyland .
Travelers to Batuu dropped $ 200 on build-your-own lightsabers , $ 100 on build-your-own droids , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Cantina and even $ 25,000 for a full-size R2-D2 .
That kind of spending adds up quickly — particularly when fans wait in hours-long lines to trade their cold , hard galactic credits for interstellar souvenirs .
Despite the flat attendance in 2019 , Galaxy ’ s Edge certainly helped Disney ’ s bottom line .
Disney ’ s Parks , Experiences and Products revenue increased 8 percent in each of the two full quarters after Galaxy ’ s Edge opened at Disneyland .
The Galaxy ’ s Edge themed lands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and beverage sales and merchandise sales , then Disney CEO and now Executive Chairman Bob Iger said in November .
“ Those two land have been far more successful than have been reported , ” Iger said on a call with analysts .
The twin debuts of the Rise of the Resistance attractions in California and Florida contributed to a 10 % increase in per capita spending at Disney ’ s U.S. parks , Iger said in February .

The old adage of “if you build it, they will come” didn’t pan out for Disneyland with the debut of the $1 billion Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge as attendance at the Anaheim theme park remained flat in 2019.
But while on the surface it may seem like Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge was a bust, if you dig a little deeper you’ll realize that keeping attendance flat during the largest expansion in Disneyland’s history was all part of Disney’s larger strategy.
Disneyland attendance remained flat at 18.7 million visitors in 2019 with annual visitorship also unchanged at Disney California Adventure at 9.9 million, according to the Themed Entertainment Association. The annual TEA report looked at the 2019 calendar year before Disney shuttered all 12 of its theme parks around the globe amid the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020.
Before the opening of Galaxy’s Edge, news reports warned of massive crowds that would descend on Disneyland with the late May debut of the new Star Wars Land. Soon after Galaxy’s Edge opened, those same news reports marveled at the thin crowds that turned Disneyland into a “ghost town.”
Those big crowds didn’t show up until the ballyhooed Rise of the Resistance trackless dark ride was unveiled in January — after the 2019 attendance figures had been calculated and before the coronavirus closure of Disneyland.
The Batuu East version of Galaxy’s Edge opened at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in late August, helping to boost 2019 attendance at the Florida park by a modest 2%, according to the TEA report.
But certainly Disney didn’t spend a combined $2 billion on Star Wars lands on both coasts to attract an additional 225,000 visitors at Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2019. Disney World’s four parks draw a combined 320,000 visitors per day.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter boosted attendance at Universal’s Islands of Adventure by 30% in 2010 and 29% in 2011. The Diagon Alley expansion next door at Universal Studios Florida brought attendance jumps of 17% in 2014 and 16% in 2015. Attendance spiked 60% in early 2017 after Wizarding World West debuted at Universal Studios Hollywood.
Disney and Universal take decidedly different approaches to running their theme parks. Universal likes to be the first and the biggest. Disney strives to be the best and is willing to cautiously wait to get things right.
It turns out flat attendance following the grand opening of Galaxy’s Edge might be exactly what Disneyland wanted.
The two chief knocks on Disneyland that get delivered repeatedly like a one-two punch are that the park is too crowded and tickets are too expensive.
Headlines proclaiming flat attendance at Disneyland in 2019 help combat the perception of a crowding problem. An extra 14 acres carved out of backstage space for Galaxy’s Edge also increases the footprint of Disneyland — meaning more room for visitors and a less crowded park. The extended coronavirus closure of the park is expected to lead to lower attendance at Disneyland for several years — a potential unintended benefit when it comes to crowding.
On the price side of the equation, Disneyland uses variable ticket pricing to help manage attendance. The five-tier pricing system charges less for admission on the slowest days and more on the busiest days. The goal: Draw more visitors when attendance is light and fewer people when the park is crowded. The result: More economy-minded visitors midweek and during the off-season and more well-heeled customers in the summer and on weekends and holidays.
Variable ticket pricing helps spread out the crowds more evenly across the entire calendar — with an eye toward drawing fewer visitors year over year but overall attracting bigger spenders with deeper pockets.
Disney’s “yield strategy” admits fewer visitors at higher ticket prices for an improved “guest experience” that results in greater spending on food and merchandise and increased profits. The plan is deceptively simple: Happier customers spend more. And the objective is even simpler: Make Disneyland the happiest place on Earth.
Galaxy’s Edge certainly drew its fair share of fear-of-missing-out visitors to Disneyland. The TEA attendance figures suggest the fear-of-big-crowds contingent may have decided to wait until all the excitement died down before checking out the new Star Wars land. Another factor: Disney acknowledged some Disneyland visitors deferred visits until the delayed Rise of the Resistance attraction opened more than six months after the land.
But one thing is clear: Those FOMO fans and Star Wars die-hards dropped a lot of galactic credits on food, drinks and merchandise in the Black Spire Outpost village on the Star Wars planet of Batuu, the setting for Galaxy’s Edge. Which helped drive up per capita spending at Disneyland.
Travelers to Batuu dropped $200 on build-your-own lightsabers, $100 on build-your-own droids, $42 on alien cocktails at Oga’s Cantina and even $25,000 for a full-size R2-D2. That kind of spending adds up quickly — particularly when fans wait in hours-long lines to trade their cold, hard galactic credits for interstellar souvenirs.
Despite the flat attendance in 2019, Galaxy’s Edge certainly helped Disney’s bottom line.
Disney’s Parks, Experiences and Products revenue increased 8 percent in each of the two full quarters after Galaxy’s Edge opened at Disneyland.
The Galaxy’s Edge themed lands drove increases in per-capita spending, food and beverage sales and merchandise sales, then Disney CEO and now Executive Chairman Bob Iger said in November.
“Those two land have been far more successful than have been reported,” Iger said on a call with analysts.
The twin debuts of the Rise of the Resistance attractions in California and Florida contributed to a 10% increase in per capita spending at Disney’s U.S. parks, Iger said in February.


Bridge: July 20, 2020

“ Does a sheep know when somebody pulls the wool over its eyes ?
” — graffiti Since declarer can ’ t see the defenders ’ hands , they have opportunities to lead him astray through deceptive play : falsecarding , playing a card he already knows they hold , or winning a trick with a higher card than necessary .
In today ’ s deal , South found himself at four hearts .
His three hearts was strictly competitive , not a game try , and North really should have passed .
West led the queen of spades , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trumps and led a club to dummy ’ s nine ( not best ) .
East won with the queen and shifted to the four of diamonds : six , ace ( ! )
, eight .
West then led a club .
South saw no need to risk a second club finesse when he clearly could win a third diamond trick and pitch a club from dummy .
He took the ace of clubs and let the ten of diamonds ride — and found that wool had been pulled .
West produced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clubs for down one .
You hold : S 4 H A K Q 9 3 D K J 7 6 C J 4 2 .
Neither side vulnerable .
The dealer , at your right , opens one spade .
You bid two hearts , the next player raises to two spades and two passes follow .
What do you say ?
ANSWER : Double .
This action is not without risk , but to sell out at the two level when your partner surely has a few points is a losing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; partner will usually bid a minor or support your hearts .

“Does a sheep know when somebody pulls the wool over its eyes?” — graffiti
Since declarer can’t see the defenders’ hands, they have opportunities to lead him astray through deceptive play: falsecarding, playing a card he already knows they hold, or winning a trick with a higher card than necessary.
In today’s deal, South found himself at four hearts. His three hearts was strictly competitive, not a game try, and North really should have passed. West led the queen of spades, and South took the ace, drew trumps and led a club to dummy’s nine (not best). East won with the queen and shifted to the four of diamonds: six, ace (!), eight. West then led a club.
FINESSE
South saw no need to risk a second club finesse when he clearly could win a third diamond trick and pitch a club from dummy. He took the ace of clubs and let the ten of diamonds ride — and found that wool had been pulled. West produced the queen and cashed his king of clubs for down one.
This week: defensive deception.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S 4 H A K Q 9 3 D K J 7 6 C J 4 2. Neither side vulnerable. The dealer, at your right, opens one spade. You bid two hearts, the next player raises to two spades and two passes follow. What do you say?
ANSWER: Double. This action is not without risk, but to sell out at the two level when your partner surely has a few points is a losing approach. Your double is for takeout; partner will usually bid a minor or support your hearts.
South dealer
N-S vulnerable
NORTH
S A 9 3
H 8 7 4 2
D 10 9 8
C A 10 9
WEST
S Q J 10 8 7
H 10
D A Q 5 2
C K 7 6
EAST
S K 6 5 2
H J 6 5
D 4 3
C Q 8 5 3
SOUTH
S 4
H A K Q 9 3
D K J 7 6
C J 4 2
South West North East
1 H 1 S 2 H 2 S
3 H Pass 4 H(!) All Pass
Opening lead — S Q
(C)2020 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.


mercurynews--2020-07-21--Navy veteran recalls being beaten by feds in Portland

SALEM , Ore. — The Navy veteran stands passively in Portland , Oregon , amid swirling tear gas .
One of the militarized federal agents deployed by President Donald Trump swings a baton at him with full force .
With both hands .
Five times .
Under the assault , 53-year-old Christopher David seems like a redwood tree — impervious to the blows .
But in a video shot by a reporter , another officer — wearing green military camouflage , a helmet and gas mask — sprays David full in the face with what appears to be pepper gas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has gone viral .
Accounts of it have been reported by news outlets in the United States and around the world .
Today , David , who suffered two broken bones in his hand , finds himself a reluctant symbol of the protests taking place in Oregon ’ s largest city and the federal response to it .
Militarized officers from a handful of agencies have been using tear gas , flash-bangs , pepper spray , “ less-lethal ” impact weapons and other munitions to disperse crowds .
“ It isn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s about focusing back on the original intention of all of these protests , which is Black Lives Matter , ” David said in a phone interview Monday with The Associated Press .
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security , which has deployed officers to Portland , did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the incident that David recounted .
DHS said in a statement about Saturday night ’ s events that some of the protesters were “ violent anarchists ” who had launched objects at federal officers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and tried to barricade officers inside the federal building .
Some vandalism , including graffiti , has occurred in the Portland protests , now in their 53rd day , and federal officials say they ’ ve responded to protect property and help restore order .
One protester was arrested after allegedly assaulting a federal officer with a hammer .
But people peacefully protesting police brutality and racism , including a county commissioner and religious clerics , have been subjected to riot-control munitions .
One demonstrator was hit in the head by an impact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and head .
Some were snatched off the streets by the federal officers and stuffed into unmarked vehicles .
David , a graduate of the U.S .
Naval Academy and a Navy veteran , was so disturbed by what he ’ d heard that he came to a protest site outside the federal building in downtown Portland on Saturday night .
He put on a sweatshirt with “ Navy ” emblazoned across the chest and a Navy ballcap , figuring the federal officers would be , like him , a military veteran .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ he reminded them “ that you take the oath to the Constitution ; you don ’ t take the oath to a particular person.
” “ What they were doing was unconstitutional , ” David said .
“ Sometimes I worry that people take the oath of office or the oath to the Constitution , and it ’ s just a set of words that mean nothing .
They really don ’ t feel in their heart the weight of those words.
” There was no talking .
The federal officers , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the federal building .
“ They came out in this phalanx , running , and then they plowed into a bunch of protesters in the intersection of the street and knocked them over .
They came out to fight , ” David said .
One officer pointed a semi-automatic weapon at David ’ s chest , he said , and video shows another shoving him backwards as he tried to talk with the officers .
“ I took a couple steps back , straightened up , and then just stood my ground @ @ @ @ @ @ @ side , ” David recalled .
One officer began whacking at David with the baton .
When he doesn ’ t fall or even flinch , another officer sprays him full in the face .
David then retreats a few steps while making an obscene gesture .
“ They are thugs and goons , ” David said .
“ I couldn ’ t recognize anything tactically that they were attempting to do that was even remotely related to crowd control .
It looked to me like a gang of guys with sticks.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ‘ Democrat ’ cities • Portland officials ask feds to remove agents from city David will need reconstructive surgery with pins and plates on his ring finger that was shattered .
A bone in his hand was also broken .
He ’ s not going back out to protest .
“ My ex-wife and my daughter would kill me if I did that .
They ’ re so angry at me for doing it in the first place because I got beat up , ” he said .
“ I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m an overweight , 53-year-old man .
”

By Andrew Selsky | Associated Press
SALEM, Ore. — The Navy veteran stands passively in Portland, Oregon, amid swirling tear gas. One of the militarized federal agents deployed by President Donald Trump swings a baton at him with full force. With both hands. Five times.
Under the assault, 53-year-old Christopher David seems like a redwood tree — impervious to the blows. But in a video shot by a reporter, another officer — wearing green military camouflage, a helmet and gas mask — sprays David full in the face with what appears to be pepper gas.
Video of the Saturday night incident has gone viral. Accounts of it have been reported by news outlets in the United States and around the world.
Today, David, who suffered two broken bones in his hand, finds himself a reluctant symbol of the protests taking place in Oregon’s largest city and the federal response to it. Militarized officers from a handful of agencies have been using tear gas, flash-bangs, pepper spray, “less-lethal” impact weapons and other munitions to disperse crowds.
“It isn’t about me getting beat up. It’s about focusing back on the original intention of all of these protests, which is Black Lives Matter,” David said in a phone interview Monday with The Associated Press.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which has deployed officers to Portland, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the incident that David recounted. DHS said in a statement about Saturday night’s events that some of the protesters were “violent anarchists” who had launched objects at federal officers, including fireworks and bags of paint, and tried to barricade officers inside the federal building.
Some vandalism, including graffiti, has occurred in the Portland protests, now in their 53rd day, and federal officials say they’ve responded to protect property and help restore order. One protester was arrested after allegedly assaulting a federal officer with a hammer.
But people peacefully protesting police brutality and racism, including a county commissioner and religious clerics, have been subjected to riot-control munitions. One demonstrator was hit in the head by an impact munition, shattering bones in his face and head. Some were snatched off the streets by the federal officers and stuffed into unmarked vehicles.
David, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and a Navy veteran, was so disturbed by what he’d heard that he came to a protest site outside the federal building in downtown Portland on Saturday night.
He put on a sweatshirt with “Navy” emblazoned across the chest and a Navy ballcap, figuring the federal officers would be, like him, a military veteran. He figured they’d listen as he reminded them “that you take the oath to the Constitution; you don’t take the oath to a particular person.”
“What they were doing was unconstitutional,” David said. “Sometimes I worry that people take the oath of office or the oath to the Constitution, and it’s just a set of words that mean nothing. They really don’t feel in their heart the weight of those words.”
There was no talking. The federal officers, in full tactical gear, came charging out of the federal building.
“They came out in this phalanx, running, and then they plowed into a bunch of protesters in the intersection of the street and knocked them over. They came out to fight,” David said. One officer pointed a semi-automatic weapon at David’s chest, he said, and video shows another shoving him backwards as he tried to talk with the officers.
“I took a couple steps back, straightened up, and then just stood my ground right there, arms down by my side,” David recalled.
One officer began whacking at David with the baton. When he doesn’t fall or even flinch, another officer sprays him full in the face. David then retreats a few steps while making an obscene gesture.
“They are thugs and goons,” David said. “I couldn’t recognize anything tactically that they were attempting to do that was even remotely related to crowd control. It looked to me like a gang of guys with sticks.”
David will need reconstructive surgery with pins and plates on his ring finger that was shattered. A bone in his hand was also broken.
He’s not going back out to protest.
“My ex-wife and my daughter would kill me if I did that. They’re so angry at me for doing it in the first place because I got beat up,” he said. “I’m not a redwood tree. I’m an overweight, 53-year-old man.”


mercurynews--2020-07-21--A.J. Puk’s timeline for return is unknown; who will replace him in the rotation?

The A ’ s looked to be the lucky ones , spared a significant injury that could dent a team looking to make a postseason run again .
Monday , that precarious streak of luck came to an end with news that prized left-hander A.J .
Puk re-strained his left shoulder — the same injury Puk incurred early March in Arizona — and was placed on the 10-day injured list .
Shoulder flare ups are common among pitchers recovering from Tommy John — or so , that ’ s what many TJ survivors have told Puk .
“ It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for him , too , ” manager Bob Melvin said .
“ We thought this period of time off would benefit him .
It did up until a point.
” Puk has no timetable for return , and any update will come following his meeting with Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles .
But , the A ’ s are concerned .
“ The fact we have to put him on the ( IL ) right away , there ’ s a level of concern , ” Melvin said .
The A ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can squeeze into the lineup , while also leaving plenty of arms to execute any long relief that might be required in these weighted games .
Though the A ’ s won ’ t be piggybacking anytime soon , down the line some teams — A ’ s included — could find an advantage to limiting a starter ’ s outing to keep them from seeing a lineup a third time through .
There ’ s also an advantage to managing the starters ’ pitch count and prevent injury during this 60-game sprint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be rushed into his rotation spot .
The 22-year-old left-hander threw to Ramón Laureano — who missed the first exhibition game with a tight calf — in live batting practice on Monday .
The A ’ s will still stretch Luzardo out to three-inning outings out of the bullpen before he will claim his rightful spot in the rotation .
Daniel Mengden will replace Puk , fifth spot in the rotation .
The right-handed pitcher threw four innings his last time out in a simulated game and didn ’ t give up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by trade , and it ’ s no secret he wants to be in a rotation where his career with the A ’ s began in 2016 .
If the pitching staff were at full strength , Mengden was expected to take on a swingman/long relief role Chris Bassitt ( who is currently slotted into the rotation ) embraced last season .
“ Daniel will have to go through that , and you have to accept that if you want to excel , ” Melvin said last week .
Coming off a clean-up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his delivery .
His signature elongated wind-up is condensed .
His arm stroke is a little shorter .
His toe taps and triple-fist pumps have been nearly slashed from the motion .
Mengden is throwing his fastball more , and he brought back his Rollie Fingers-esque mustache , too .
With the two swingmen currently called up to the rotation , the A ’ s still have depth to deploy innings eaters in relief — Luzardo perhaps one of the sneakiest weapons in high-leverage situations to start .
Burch Smith as an arm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go three innings .
The tight spin on Smith ’ s fastball caught pitching coach Scott Emerson ’ s eye .
A relatively high spin rate , low arm slot , and extended release point — his seven-foot extension is slightly above league average of six feet — gives Smith , 30 , a devastating rising fastball .
“ I ’ ve always been able to pitch up there , ” Smith said .
He ’ d learned how to hone it in his time in the Tampa Bay Rays system back in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do that , and since then I ’ ve taken that with me.
” That elevated fastball has Smith on a clear path toward the Opening Day 30-man roster .
In a simulated game outing last week , Smith struck out three of the four batters he faced .
In an outing this week , he struck out six of the eight batters he faced , manager Bob Melvin said .
Smith ’ s career began as a starter with the San Diego Padres in 2013 .
Tommy John surgery in 2015 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Kansas City Royals started him for six games in 2018 .
Smith hasn ’ t been able to stick on a team — his high ERAs might indicate why — but his 9.9 SO/9 rate accumulated in the Milwaukee Brewers system in 2019 tells us why he could stick with the A ’ s .
It was there that Smith started making more appearances out of the bullpen .
He started simplifying his approach , too .
“ I ’ m not trying to pitch to the edge of the plate or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said on a call with reporters .
“ I ’ m just trying to work in halves.
” But , his experience as a starter eases the mental and physical leap to the three-plus inning outings the A ’ s might ask him to make .
Like Smith , Yusmeiro Petit has the starter experience that eases him into a possible long-relief role — really , he has experience playing every and any role out of the bullpen .
It ’ s why he ’ s a coaching staff favorite .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ throws an 89 mph fastball to be a Statcast darling , but Petit ’ s analytics jump off the page : a 3.2 walk rate ( top 1 % of the league ) , a .240 weighted on-base average ( top 3 % ) , a 3.09 ERA and the most appearances from a pitcher in the league ( 82 ) .
Petit is going into his 13th big league season with help from a deceptive delivery that he ’ s still working to improve .
During the hiatus , Petit went back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over film ; he saw that he was tipping his fastball a bit , so he ’ s running his hands a little more behind his back .
It ’ s the little things that add longevity .
Petit is a mentor for a majority if the pitchers — and hitters — on this team .
His versatility and proven stamina could make him especially valuable in a short season .
• Top A ’ s starter placed on IL with shoulder strain • Predicting the A ’ s Opening Day lineup against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Giants and A ’ s reporters as clubs prepare for strange MLB season • A ’ s : Clear of coronavirus , Luzardo returns ; when will he be in the rotation ?
J.B. Wendelken is another pitcher that can throw multiple innings .
Used primarily to soak up garbage time last season , the right-handed pitcher impressed with a 95 mph fastball , curveball and changeup .

The A’s looked to be the lucky ones, spared a significant injury that could dent a team looking to make a postseason run.
Monday, that precarious streak of luck came to an end with news that prized left-hander A.J. Puk strained his left shoulder — the same injury Puk incurred early March in Arizona — and was placed on the 10-day injured list.
Shoulder flare ups are common among pitchers who have had Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery, or that’s what pitchers who have had that operation have told Puk.
“It’s frustrating. It’s frustrating for him, too,” manager Bob Melvin said. “We thought this period of time off would benefit him. It did up until a point.”
Puk has no timetable for return, and any update will come following his meeting with Dr. Neal ElAttrache — the physician who performed Puk’s Tommy John surgery — in Los Angeles. But, the A’s are concerned.
“The fact we have to put him on the (IL) right away, there’s a level of concern,” Melvin said.
The A’s have a line of pitchers who can squeeze into the lineup, while also leaving plenty of arms to execute any long relief that might be required in these weighted games. Though the A’s won’t be piggybacking anytime soon, down the line some teams — A’s included — could find an advantage to limiting a starter’s outing to keep them from seeing a lineup a third time through. There’s also an advantage to managing the starters’ pitch count and prevent injury during this 60-game sprint.
Don’t expect Jesús Luzardo to be rushed into his rotation spot. The 22-year-old left-hander threw to Ramón Laureano — who missed the first exhibition game with a tight calf — in live batting practice on Monday. The A’s will stretch Luzardo to three-inning outings out of the bullpen before he will claim his spot in the rotation.
Daniel Mengden will replace Puk, fifth spot in the rotation. The right-handed pitcher threw four innings his last time out in a simulated game and didn’t give up any runs.
Mengden is a starter by trade, and it’s no secret he wants to be in a rotation where his career with the A’s began in 2016. If the pitching staff were at full strength, Mengden was expected to take on a swingman/long relief role Chris Bassitt (who is currently slotted into the rotation) embraced last season.
“Daniel will have to go through that, and you have to accept that if you want to excel,” Melvin said last week.
Coming off a clean-up elbow surgery this winter, Mengden condensed his delivery. His signature elongated wind-up is condensed. His arm stroke is a little shorter. His toe taps and triple-fist pumps have been nearly slashed from the motion. Mengden is throwing his fastball more, and he brought back his Rollie Fingers-esque mustache, too.
“He’s looked really good,” Melvin said.
With the two swingmen currently called up to the rotation, the A’s still have depth to deploy innings eaters in relief — Luzardo perhaps one of the sneakiest weapons in high-leverage situations to start.
Burch Smith as an arm best suited to be stretched out to go three innings.
The tight spin on Smith’s fastball caught pitching coach Scott Emerson’s eye. A relatively high spin rate, low arm slot, and extended release point — his seven-foot extension is slightly above league average of six feet — gives Smith, 30, a devastating rising fastball.
“I’ve always been able to pitch up there,” Smith said. He’d learned how to hone it in his time in the Tampa Bay Rays system back in 2017. “They taught me how to do that, and since then I’ve taken that with me.”
That elevated fastball has Smith on a clear path toward the Opening Day 30-man roster. In a simulated game outing last week, Smith struck out three of the four batters he faced. In an outing this week, he struck out six of the eight batters he faced, manager Bob Melvin said.
Smith’s career began as a starter with the San Diego Padres in 2013. Tommy John surgery in 2015 kept him out of the game until the Kansas City Royals started him for six games in 2018. Smith hasn’t been able to stick on a team — his high ERAs might indicate why — but his 9.9 SO/9 rate accumulated in the Milwaukee Brewers system in 2019 tells us why he could stick with the A’s.
It was there that Smith started making more appearances out of the bullpen.
He started simplifying his approach, too.
“I’m not trying to pitch to the edge of the plate or dissect the edge of the quarters,” he said on a call with reporters. “I’m just trying to work in halves.”
But, his experience as a starter eases the mental and physical leap to the three-plus inning outings the A’s might ask him to make.
Like Smith, Yusmeiro Petit has the starter experience that eases him into a possible long-relief role — really, he has experience playing every and any role out of the bullpen. It’s why he’s a coaching staff favorite.
You might not expect a pitcher who throws an 89 mph fastball to be a Statcast darling, but Petit’s analytics jump off the page: a 3.2 walk rate (top 1% of the league), a .240 weighted on-base average (top 3%), a 3.09 ERA and the most appearances from a pitcher in the league (80).
Petit is going into his 13th big league season with help from a deceptive delivery that he’s still working to improve. During the hiatus, Petit went back to his home in Miami and pored over film; he saw that he was tipping his fastball a bit, so he’s running his hands a little more behind his back.
It’s the little things that add longevity. Petit is a mentor for a majority if the pitchers — and hitters — on this team. His versatility and proven stamina could make him especially valuable in a short season.
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J.B. Wendelken is another pitcher that can throw multiple innings. Used primarily to soak up garbage time last season, the right-handed pitcher impressed with a 95 mph fastball, curveball and changeup.