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Giants sign veteran catcher Curt Casali to 1-year deal

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Giants sign veteran catcher Curt Casali to 1-year deal
Sport

Sport

Giants sign veteran catcher Curt Casali to 1-year deal

2024-05-16 11:14 Last Updated At:11:21

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The San Francisco Giants signed veteran catcher Curt Casali to a one-year contract on Wednesday amid a growing number of injuries on their roster.

Starting catcher Patrick Bailey went back on the seven-day concussion injured list Tuesday after being activated three days earlier, and backup Tom Murphy was transferred to the 60-day IL on Wednesday with a sprained left knee.

Giants catcher Jakson Reetz was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento to make room for Casali on the active roster.

The 35-year-old Casali played for San Francisco from 2021-22 before getting traded to the Seattle Mariners.

“A lot of the things that you want from that position, he does very well,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said. “And I know our guys, especially the ones who have been around him before, are excited about him being here.”

Casali spent last season with the Cincinnati Reds, batting .175 in 40 games.

He signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs in March and hit .362 with two home runs and 11 RBIs in 23 games with Triple-A Iowa.

In 10 major league seasons with the Rays, Reds, Giants and Mariners, Casali has a .220 batting average with 47 homers and 154 RBIs.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

San Francisco Giants' Mike Yastrzemski, middle, celebrates after hitting a two-run home run that also scored Curt Casali (18), next to Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith, left, during the third inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, May 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

San Francisco Giants' Mike Yastrzemski, middle, celebrates after hitting a two-run home run that also scored Curt Casali (18), next to Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith, left, during the third inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, May 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

FILE - Cincinnati Reds catcher Curt Casali, left, and pitcher Nick Lodolo, right, walk to the dugout before the team's baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Oakland, Calif., April 30, 2023. The San Francisco Giants signed Casali to a one-year contract Wednesday, May 15, 2024, amid a growing number of injuries on their roster. Starting catcher Patrick Bailey went back on the seven-day concussion injured list Tuesday after being activated three days earlier, and backup Tom Murphy was transferred to the 60-day IL on Wednesday with a sprained left knee. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez, File)

FILE - Cincinnati Reds catcher Curt Casali, left, and pitcher Nick Lodolo, right, walk to the dugout before the team's baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Oakland, Calif., April 30, 2023. The San Francisco Giants signed Casali to a one-year contract Wednesday, May 15, 2024, amid a growing number of injuries on their roster. Starting catcher Patrick Bailey went back on the seven-day concussion injured list Tuesday after being activated three days earlier, and backup Tom Murphy was transferred to the 60-day IL on Wednesday with a sprained left knee. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez, File)

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Seahawks look to get ground game going against LA Rams

2024-11-01 07:27 Last Updated At:07:40

Coach Mike Macdonald has faith the Seattle Seahawks are going to get their ground game going.

The Seahawks have lost four of five after a 3-0 start and hope to shift the season back in their favor on Sunday at home against their NFC West rival, the Los Angeles Rams. A key to putting the season back on track is clearly the running game.

Seattle has the league’s No. 1 passing offense, led by veteran quarterback Geno Smith. But rushing-wise, the Seahawks are managing an average of just 89.3 yards on the ground per game. Only four teams in the league have lower averages.

The Seahawks fell at home 31-10 last weekend to the Buffalo Bills, which dropped the team into a first-place tie in the NFC West. Seattle rushed for a season-low 32 yards against Buffalo, with Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet rushing 12 times for 16 yards.

Walker is the team's top rusher with 315 yards on 74 carries and six touchdowns.

“We’re going to get it figured out. I mean, we’re going to be a good run team, going to have an efficient offense," Macdonald said. “I do feel like I’m a little bit of a broken record every week, but I do feel optimistic talking to the coaches and watching the tape.”

The Rams (3-4) played at home last Thursday, beating Minnesota 30-20.

The Rams' run defense is ranked 23rd in the NFL, allowing an average of 139.1 yards a game. They’ve allowed six rushing touchdowns. Overall, the Rams are allowing opponents 351.7 total yards a game.

“We’re going to get this thing rolling," Macdonald said hopefully. "I think once you complement getting the run game going with all the other mechanisms we have in our offense and our system and all of our skill guys and the way Geno’s throwing the ball, I think that could be a really potent attack.”

As for the Seahawks' defense against the run, the Bills had 164 rushing yards on 34 attempts for an average of 4.8 yards per carry. James Cook had 17 carries for 111 yards and two touchdowns.

Overall the Seahawks ranked 29th in the league against the run, with an average of 148.4 yards allowed. They'll be challenged by Rams running back Kyren Williams, who has eight rushing touchdowns.

The Rams raised eyebrows in late August when they abruptly traded Ernest Jones, their leading tackler and defensive signal-caller, to Tennessee for a mere late-round pick upgrade in 2026 after failed negotiations on a contract extension for the fourth-year pro. Jones made 44 tackles in six games with the struggling Titans before they shipped him to Seattle for Jerome Baker and a fourth-round pick — much more than Los Angeles got for a key member of its Super Bowl championship team.

Jones made a whopping 15 tackles in his Seahawks debut last week, and now he’ll face the team that gave up on him instead of allowing him to play out his rookie contract.

Coach Sean McVay’s replacements at inside linebacker are not at Jones’ level, and the coach essentially acknowledged it this week: “I think all the decisions that we make in the moment, we feel like are in the best interest. I’m not going to pretend to act like every decision is accurate, and you try to be able to learn from it and apply it moving forward.”

Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf didn't practice on Thursday, but there were still hopes he could return Sunday from an MCL sprain that kept him out of the game against the Bills. Metcalf ranks eighth in the NFL with 568 receiving yards on 35 catches, for an average of 16.2 yards per reception, 11th most in the league.

Seattle was also optimistic about defensive end Dre’Mont Jones, who hurt his shoulder in the game. Tackle George Fant, who returned to practice last week after a knee injury in the first week of the season, could also play. But tackle Abraham Lucas, recovering for offseason knee surgery, won't be available.

Los Angeles got an enormous boost last Thursday from the returns of top receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, who combined for 12 catches for 157 yards and a TD in Matthew Stafford’s first four-TD game of the season.

The Rams are unlikely to get a similar boost from injury returns this weekend after their extra time off. Starting offensive linemen Steve Avila and Jonah Jackson are still at least another week away, although backup lineman Joe Noteboom could be available for the first time since Week 1 to help a rushing attack ranked in the league’s bottom third despite another strong season from Kyren Williams. Los Angeles also hopes to have safety Kam Curl, who was limited in practice by a knee injury.

AP Sports Writer Greg Beacham in Los Angeles and AP freelance writer Shane Lantz in Seattle contributed to this report.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Demarcus Robinson (15) celebrates after scoring a 25-yard touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Demarcus Robinson (15) celebrates after scoring a 25-yard touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Demarcus Robinson celebrates after catching a touchdown pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Demarcus Robinson celebrates after catching a touchdown pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) catches a pass near Minnesota Vikings cornerback Stephon Gilmore (2) during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) catches a pass near Minnesota Vikings cornerback Stephon Gilmore (2) during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) carries the ball as Buffalo Bills running back Ray Davis (22) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) carries the ball as Buffalo Bills running back Ray Davis (22) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) runs the ball against Buffalo Bills defensive end Dawuane Smoot (94) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) runs the ball against Buffalo Bills defensive end Dawuane Smoot (94) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) reacts to a call during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) reacts to a call during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

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