The NOR CAL Report

February 2012, Episode 1

2012-02-05T04:39:14Z

With more than 40,000 downloads per year, The Nor Cal Report is the best portable sports show in Northern California! Subscribe on iTunes, Podbean, or Podcast Alley, like us on Facebook, and follow @jzitrin and @lexgopnik on Twitter. Keep bringing the comments, the love, and the downloads. Jess & Lex will be there with the insights, the info, and the one-of-a-kind interviews you love!

Thanks for sticking with The Norcal Report as we evolve in 2012.

On this Episode the guys talk Raiders GM moves. Could Reggie Mckenzie be Green Bays sloppy seconds?

The 49ers surpassed expectations with an NFC title game run. Should the faithful be that upset that this group didn't make it to the Super Bowl?

The Sharks continue to play the way Shark Finatics are used to at this point in the season. What does team Teal need to make that ever elusive run at the cup.

In the world of Northern Cali hoop's things change but mostly stay the same, as the Warriors and Kings continue to be a couple of the NBA's worst teams.

Even though its February the weather and sports scene is hottt on The NorCal Report...

Copyright The Nor Cal Report, 2007-2012

November 2011, Episode 2 (with Javier Lopez, San Francisco Giants)

2011-11-30T02:36:11Z

With more than 40,000 downloads this year, The Nor Cal Report the best portable sports show in Northern California! Subscribe on iTunes, Podbean, or Podcast Alley, like us on Facebook, and follow @jzitrin and @lexgopnik on Twitter. Keep bringing the comments, the love, and the downloads. Jess & Lex will be there with the insights, the info, and the one-of-a-kind interviews you love!

This week, the lads are joined by Giants postseason stud Javier Lopez.

Plus, the fellas breakdown the 49ers performance in the Harbowl. Were the Niners due for a loss? Or did Brother John expose a weakness in Jim's scheme that other teams might use against San Francisco going forward?

The Raiders get their biggest home win of the season without some of their biggest offensive weapons on the field. Good thing the Silver and Black can rely on their most consistent players on the roster hall of fame kicking duo (YEAH WE SAID IT) Sebastian Janikowski and Sugar Shane Lechler.

The San Jose Sharks are swimming with the NHL's best, despite a bottom feeding penalty kill, good thing Team Teal has plenty of time to figure it out before the quest for Stanley's beverage container begins.

Finally San Francisco Giants reliever Javier Lopez tells the guys his secret to shutting down Barry Bonds and much, much more...

Oh yeah, the NBA will start playing on Xmas day. Do you care? Leave us a comment and let us know either way.

We've digested our thanksgiving meal and are ready for some more pro sports action on the NorCal Report....

The San Jose Sharks were shutout 2-0 by the LA Kings the other night but it could have been 3-0 if not for a disallowed goal that was reviewed by NHL officials in the video "war room" in Toronto. Former NHL ref Kerry Fraser (the last ref to skate without a helmet) tells us why the goal did not count.

We told you that the 49ers could sow up a playoff birth with a win in the next couple of weeks, big Nate Stuhlbarg from CSN Bay Area.com breaks down the 9er playoff clinching scenarios.

Billy Beane is hoping that a little home cooked Chili might warm up his teams bat's as the A's fill out their coaching staff for the 2012 campaign.

Thanks as always for checkin' in. Enjoy your fresh new Nor Cal Report!

November 2011, Episode 1 (with Orlando Cabrera, San Francisco Giants)

2011-11-24T08:15:35Z

With more than 40,000 downloads this year, The Nor Cal Report the best portable sports show in Northern California! Subscribe on iTunes, like us on Facebook, and follow @jzitrin and @lexgopnik on Twitter. Keep bringing the comments, the love, and the downloads. Jess & Lex will be there with the insights, the info, and the one-of-a-kind interviews you love!

On this episode, The 9-1 49ers yeah we said it!!!! get ready for the Harbowl

The Raider Nation looks to stay atop the AFC West despite major injuries on all fronts.

While the San Jose Sharks sit atop the NHL's toughest division, as the new acquisitions are all ready paying dividends.
And MLB vet Orlando Cabrerra sits down with the boys and you wont believe who his favorite author is.
We give thanks for 3 Norcal Teams in 1st place on The Norcal Report!!!!

Check out for Cal Great and NFL/CFL veteran Jor Kapp knock this dude out!!!

Copyright The Nor Cal Report, 2007-2012

September 2011: Episode 1 with Madison Bumgarner of the SF Giants

2011-09-14T08:31:31Z

With more than 40,000 downloads on all of our available outlets, The NOR CAL Report is the best portable sports show in Northern California! Subscribe on iTunes, like us on Facebook, and follow @jzitrin and @lexgopnik on Twitter. Keep bringing the comments, the love, and the downloads. Jess & Lex will be there with the insights, the info, and the one-of-a-kind interviews you love!

This week, Lex holds it down solo, while the Giants, Carolinian and cowboy in his own right Madison Bumgarner sits down with the fellas.

The Oakland Athletics are trying to play spoiler as the season comes to an end. Will the White Elephants stomp on the playoff aspirations of the halos? Also MoneyBall the movie is due out next week, has Billy Bean been playing it cool?

The Giants are pretty much a wrap when it comes to playoff hope. But maybe this years struggles should remind Gigante's fans how special the 2010 World Champ's really are...Plus Madison "The Carolina K Machine" Bumgarner sits down with the boys and shares his thoughts on life in the Bay and the interesting way he and his wife spend time in the off season.

The 49ers looked pretty darn good against Pete "the cheater" Caroll and the Seahawks. Was this Harbaugh magic, or did Ted Ginn's son have something to do with the 49ers home openeing victory.

The Oakland Raiders got the first W for first year coach Hue Jackson, and Run DMC looked like an elite running back, but the real highlight of the night came off the foot of the Polish Canon Sebastian Janikowski who kicked his way into NFL immortality, as the Raiders got a season opening win under the bright lights and thin air of Mile High Stadium and Monday Night Football.

We always kick it out of the end zone for a touch-back on The NorCal Report!!!

THE NORCAL REPORT BLOG:
Opinions and links to articles and information from Lex and Jess

How is a Baseball GM being played by Brad Pitt supposed to act when a movie about his theory (that recently hasnt worked out so well in The Town) exactly as hes been doing in real life according to this article from Detroit

Youd think Hue Jackson would be feeling great after his first win as a head coach in the NFL but according this article in the COCO times coach could use some Tum, Ta, Tum, Tum, Tum's

and on a final note Im really tired of the media making such a huge deal about low attendance at The O.co Coliseum. I've been saying it for years, this is exactly what happens when you alienate your fan base buy saying you don't want to be around. Is the coliseum a bad venue for baseball? Absolutely... but I've been watching games played in cities with beautiful new state of the art ball parks San Diego, Pittsburgh, and Washington to name a few who rank in the bottom 3rd of MLB attendance. Hey Lew "wolf in owners clothing" do what your neighbors across the Bay did buy your own land, build your own stadium, be a part of the East Bay community and stop telling your fan base your gonna leave. I guarantee you will see the same numbers in terms of attendance and revenue the Hass family saw when they ran the Oakland Athletics as one of the premier franchises in the Majors. For those that say oh poor Lew is just a business man trying to make a buck, remember he gets a nice check form the MLB revenue sharing pot every year whether any one buys a ticket or not......

August 2011: Episode 2 (with Mike Krukow, San Francisco Giants)

2011-08-29T22:54:49Z

With more than 40,000 downloads this year, The NOR CAL Report the best portable sports show in Northern California! Subscribe on iTunes, like us on Facebook, and follow @jzitrin and @lexgopnik on Twitter. Keep bringing the comments, the love, and the downloads. Jess & Lex will be there with the insights, the info, and the one-of-a-kind interviews you love!

This week, Lex holds it down solo, while famed Giants announcer Mike Krukow joins both Jess and Lex for insights past and present on his unique style, and the Giants'. And more:

The Oakland Athletics hit the road and took the first 2 games against the evil empire in NY; then the empire struck back and set a new MLB record, while mother nature rained on the A's road parade...

The Giants are heading south fast with an offense that is well quite frankly, offensive. Not all is lost, as an injury riddled roster is finally on the mend and the Gigantes still have six head-to-head matchups against the serpents from the desert. Plus, Mike Krukow tells the boys how he does what he does so damn well. This interview contains explicit material, so, kids: EARMUFFS!!!!!!

The 49ers faithful may need more than faith if they think Jim Harbaugh can take them back to the gold fields of yesteryear . Beating the cross bay rival Raiders should have felt good, but due to moron gangsters the pre season victory was overshadowed by the violence...

The Raider Nation hasn't had all of their parts in working order so far this pre season, and despite the pre season record have shown some signs that last years 8-8 record was not a fluke. Will the Ghost of defensive backs past curse this teams defensive backfield going forward and haunt their playoff hopes?

Finally the Earthquakes have shaken them selves out of any slight miniscule chance of post season play, while the MLS changes some financial rules to allow the young league to attract and keep young talent for the long term.

So GRAB SOME PINE, MEAT!!! and listen to this edition of the Nor Cal Report......

The NOR CAL Blog:

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

We asked this week's guest, Mike Krukow, how he balances his position as an evil media member and also part of the Giants team (he's got the ring to prove it.) Kruk sometimes gets labled a homer, but his comments on a local radio show prove he calls them how he sees them.

Let's be really clear, the violence that occurred during the 49ers-Raiders preseason game was not about football, and was definitely not because of rowdy citizens of THE RAIDER NATION. NFL security czar Jeff Miller said that the Raiders do security right, and the gun battle would not have gone down at The O.co Coliseum. So please don't blame an entire Nation for a couple of idiot gang bangers....

Kurt Suzuki started out the season pretty poorly in the batters box but recently has picked up his game. Could it be he misses his buddies of years past? With the departure of Mark Ellis Kurt Suzuki is now the most tenured player on this Oakland Athletics squad. He was able to get by with a little help from one of his ex mates and current Yankee Eric Chavez, who was able to give Zuk a little pep talk

Finally, here's a look at the new salary cap rules that will hopefully help Major League Soccer attract and keep better players so it can compete with other big time leagues around the globe.

Thanks as always for checkin' in. Enjoy your fresh new Nor Cal Report!

August, 2011: Episode 1

2011-08-29T22:54:14Z

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

It's time for an all-new NOR CAL Report! On this episode, the boys check in with the dog days of MLB, along with the long-awaited dawn of the NFL, with a little MLS sprinkled in. So check it out!

The Giants have added a depressing Braves series to an impressive series of injuries. Can the champs take another off the chin and make it through the standing eight?

It seems the A's actually brought in the right guys -- Matsui and crew -- it just took them four months to get going.

The Earthquakes are behind in their quest to make it out of the West alive. Will someone please give Wondo some help?

The Raiders and 49ers are ready to butt heads in their annual preseason shindig. But who will come out ahead in the regular season?

We've always got more on the way -- on The NOR CAL Report!

The NOR CAL Blog:

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

This year's 49ers and Raiders previews are certainly worth reading. With all that roster turnover, so little time after the lockout, plus new coaches and wide-open Western divisions, I'll say this much: these teams once again have a lot in common. And both new coaches will tell you, even in practice season: It's all about tempo...

So: Are the Giants toast? Nope, not yet. Far from it. They have the experience, the character -- but I'll say this much. With Romo down and the team absorbing hit after hit, you'd better hope Brian Wilson seeing the Tommy John elbow guy is really just a precaution.

You don't get any points now, for saying the G-Men could build an All-Star team out of its disabled list. Weren't you the guy saying last year that they didn't have All-Stars?

Keep those positive comments coming. We do it all for you -- on The NOR CAL Report!

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

2011-07-29T07:47:09Z

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The NOR CAL Blog:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

July 2011: Episode 2 (Nate Schierholtz, San Francisco Giants)

2011-07-13T21:47:24Z

Welcome to an all-new NOR CAL Report! This week, it's all about greatness as we chop it up with bay area native Nate "The Great" Shierholtz

The Giants continue to ride a top the NL West getting some timely hitting from the Panda and our guest Nate Schierholtz . With the All star game in the books who will the Giants pick up to bolster this lineup? Also the man with one of the biggest Domes in baseball (were talking craniums not stadiums) Bruce Bochy continues to make it work while juggling his lineup and rotation.

The Oakland Athletics pitching staff remains strong, but as far as this season goes ITS A WRAP!!! The hitting never materialized and it looks like Coco and Willingham are gonna be finishing off the 2011 season wearing something other then Oakland green and gold....

The Sharks make another big trade this time sending "The Heater" Dany Heatley off to their 2011 trade partner Minnesota for NHL Veteran Martin Havlat.

Finally Earthquakes rookie goalie David Bingham does something that the Team Tremor fans have never seen before!!!

NorCal Report BLOG
opinions and links about all things Norcal Sports.

Ive said it all year long Oakland and its fans are not the reason that the Athletics are having trouble at the turnstile. The total lack of commitment and some would say total sabotaging of the Oakland A's game day experience by the Wolf in owners clothing is the reason why the A's are in the the state they are in. It doesnt appear that the A's future in Oakland or San Jose is any clearer. His" Budness" Bud Selig continues to drag his feet when it comes to dealing with the Oakland relocation situation. Inside bay area has the details for YOU

Could the 49ers become the San Francisco 49ers of Santa Clara? Sounds horrible doesn't it? Well there may be 138 million reasons why that may be in the future of the 49ER Faithful. I wonder if some 9er's fan who were Raider fans before the move to LA might come back to the silver and black? I personally know at least 20 9ers fans who left The raiders when the Raiders left Oakland. Im just saying....

Still think I'm crazy to say the 49ers are heading south? Then you must think Joe Montana is CRAZY AS WELL

Finally Earthquake rookie Goalie David Bingham does what few have ever done. Can you say GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!

Copyright The Nor Cal Report, 2007-2012

July, 2011: Episode 1 (with Matt Cain, San Francisco Giants)

2011-07-01T03:56:40Z

Welcome to an all-new NOR CAL Report! This week, it's a baseball bonanza, as we check in with "the gerber baby" himself Matt Cain.

The Giants are on a roll winning 7 of 8 getting great pitching performances from Ryan Voglesong and the rest of the Giants stud rotation. The biggest surprise so far is the return of the 126 million dollar man Barry Zito have they rebuilt him? Sure appears that way.

The Oakland Athletics pitching staff remains strong and will get a lift as one time ace Rich Harden prepares to make his first MLB start of the season. The brittle Canuck has been pitching well in the minors will that translate to the bigs? Can he stay healthy the rest of the way? The Athleticos are finally getting some production from Bob Melvin's reshuffled lineup, but the green and gold are still anemic at the plate as they continue to reside in the AL West basement.
BREAKING NEWS:
After we posted this weeks show the A's announced that they have traded Mark Ellis to the Colorado Rockies for minor league right-hander Bruce Billings, and the always popular "a player to be named later". The last remnant of Oakland's most recent playoff run, an AL championship series in 2006 is GONE.... Oakland fans will miss Mark Ellis and remember him as an Athletic who loved the fans, and appreciated the fact that he got to play a game for a living. Which in today's game is something that that is a rare commodity.

The Sharks make a big trade on draft day, sending Devin Setoguchi and some draft picks to Minnesota for another offensive defensemen. Is this the piece Team Teal has been missing in the quest to spend the summer with Lord Stanley?

And the Quakes continue to shake things up in the MLS playing to a draw against arch rival LA as they continue to climb up the MLS rankings.

The NOR CAL Blog:

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

If science repeats failures to back up its own hypotheses, when does that become evidence against the science? In baseball, the numbers guys say play reverts to the mean -- over a full season, for example, a team's record should work out to roughly the sum of its offensive and defensive rankings.

In 1997, the Giants made the playoffs -- despite being outscored over the 162 game regular season. How rare is that? Pretty rare, says ESPN's Jonah Keri (Insider only). Still, the Giants defied expert analysis again last season by winning the lion's share of one-run games. (Shocked, the experts pointed to "pitching, pitching, pitching" -- ignoring that the Giants modest offense had clearly developed into a clutch unit that knew how to win.)

When science hates outliers, but the outliers keep coming -- like this year, when the undermanned G-Men are once again steaming toward contention -- you look at the human element. Although certain SABR psuedoscientists have been heard to say that "you can't prove clutch performance, therefore it does not exist," most smart folks know that you can't analyze a situation with a predetermined favorite -- i.e., your statistics over my "clutch" -- already in mind.

Listen to our interviews for yourself. My (unscientific) theory is, these guys are just loose enough, focused enough, individual enough, or team enough, to rise above the sum of their parts.

This week's guest, Matt Cain, knows by now what to look for in my old 'hood, Noe Valley. In case you don't, though, here's the lowdown. Yes, these claims are funny, but quite serious!

What do you do with confiscated ripoff Giants World Series gear? Send it to Haiti, where it can do some real good...

The A's All-Star representative this month could very well be underrated starter Gio Gonzalez. Among his many other recent feats, Gio has slogged through three rain-delayed starts. In those, he's somehow given up a total of just one run. With that kind of focus, plus the big curveball from the left side and a knack for getting away with high walk totals, Gio is starting to remind some locals of a star-crossed rival: the Giants' Barry Zito...

Also check out this This article about how badly the A's organization has fallen since the Hass family ran the A's as one of the best organizations in all of pro sports!!! Andy Dolich, an A's marketing executive from 1980-95 and part of the famed "Billy Ball" ad campaign breaks down what needs to be done for the Athletics to succeed in Oakland.

Footie fans: impressed by Earthquakes star Chris Wondolowski? Support him in his quest for an ESPY! He's up against some stiff competition...

In basketball, the Warriors somehow managed to land two of their top coaching candidates -- the inexperienced former player and analyst, and the experienced assistant coach. What a lot of people don't realize is the Jackson-Malone fit is a natural; these guys have a long relationship and were plotting a union for years.

The Warriors' new ownership group continues to plan for the future, as the Wa's have purchased their own D-League team. What this means for the future of Monta Ellis, of course, no one knows.

Finally here are the stats for The San Jose Sharks newest man on the blue line Brent Burns.

We're always looking to the future -- on The NOR CAL Report!

June, 2011: Episode 2

2011-06-24T16:57:03Z

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

It's time for a brand new NOR CAL Report! On this weeks edition.....

It's been a tough early summer for the green and gold -- but the A's rule the roost under new skipper Bob Melvin! The former Giant, with some help from rookie Jemile Weeks, has led the A's to a sweep of the Giants, and a new lease on life.

The Giants' biggest weapons in their seesaw battle for first place appear to be smoke, mirrors and a Vogelsong. Always a gutsy crew, they're now trying to prop up their offense with no Buster, no Freddy -- oh, and no wins versus Oakland in "The Town".

The Warriors' Draft a 6 foot 7 shooting guard from Washington State who from all accounts shoots like Reggie Miller but cant play D!!! Here we go again.....

and the San Jose Earthquakes get a Jamaican star back from gold cup play just in time to take on their arch rival and conference leader L.A. Galaxy

UP NEXT: The Giants look to hold onto their lead, while the A's fight to make their recent surge stand up. The Earthquakes continue to battle for playoff relevance, while the NFL and NBA squads try to put W's ahead of $ signs. Plus, the Sharks once again defend their crown as ESPN's best Nor Cal franchise.

THE NORCAL REPORT BLOG
The struggles of the nations "Bay Area" baseball teams.
The Tampa Bay Rays, Oakland A's, and San Francisco Giants are all linked together by Greed check out this interesting article on ESPN.com

As the A's head back to their roots in Philly for a 3 game set, old old timers reminisce about the days of 2 MLB teams in the city of Brotherly love.

Who would have thought the Giants would get such a tremendous performance from Ryan Vogelsong this season? Dave Rhigetti thats who.

and finally Oakland's own super reporter Monte Pool gives you his thoughts on the warriors latest top draft pick