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SAN FRANCISCO The Giants trudged onto the field for the team photo Thursday afternoon. Some of their personnel found a way to smile. Manager Bruce Bochy was among them.

But upon meeting with reporters, Bochys smile vanished. He heaved an audible sigh.

It stinks, letting guys go, Bochy said.

In addition to Conor Gillaspie, the hero of last Octobers NL Wild Card Game, Bochy had to deliver bad news to two other veterans. He said right-hander Matt Cain would be out of the rotation and would serve as a long reliever for the remainder of the season. And he acknowledged that his chat with Denard Span on Monday involved telling the career center fielder to brace for a move to left field.

The move with Span might not take place in earnest until spring training, Bochy said. The move with Cain is more immediate. Right-hander Chris Stratton will start in place of Cain on Saturday against the Arizona Diamondbacks and the plan calls for him to remain in the rotation for the rest of the season.

This is the tough thing about going through a year like this, Bochy said of managing a 41-68 club. It comes with the territory, (making) changes.

Bochy delivered some of the bad news after Wednesday nights loss to the As, telling Gillaspie that he would be designated for assignment. Gillaspie, 30, batted .163 in 44 games while battling back stiffness. His defense at third base had slipped as well. He couldnt throw out 38-year-old Chase Utley on a roller at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, which started a ninth-inning rally that ultimately cost the Giants a win.

But Gillaspie still has something to offer a contending club, and Bochy hoped he would catch on somewhere.

Gillaspie hit a pair of late-inning home runs in recent days, including one with two outs in the ninth on July 21 that forced extra innings against the Padres. It was the kind of late-inning magic he displayed so often in late September and in the postseason last year.

His unforgettable home run off the Mets Jeurys Familia broke a scoreless tie and backed Madison Bumgarners shutout to get the Giants through the Wild Card knockout game. Then he hit a triple off the Cubs Aroldis Chapman that won Game 3 of the NL Division Series. It was the first triple a left-handed hitter had ever hit off Chapman, and it came on a 100.9 mph fastball the swiftest pitch that Gillaspie had seen in his major league career.

Special stuff, in other words. And it happened in his second tour with the Giants, coming back with a much different mindset after failing to establish himself the first time around just as Travis Ishikawa did when he hit the home run that clinched the pennant in 2014.

But baseball games are won because of production, not memories. The reminder was just as brusque for Gillaspie as it was for Ishikawa in 2015.

Its always difficult, Bochy said. As you know, he did a lot for us last year, especially down the stretch. A club can pick him up. If not, I hope hes in Sacramento.

Ryder Jones is up from Sacramento, hitting second in Thursdays lineup against the As and Bochy expects to play him almost every day. The way is clear for Jones at third base after the club let Gillaspie go and optioned Jae-gyun Hwang back to the River Cats. But Bochy said Jones would get occasional starts in the outfield, too.

Jones, 23, hit .375 with three home runs in 11 games since the Giants activated him from the disabled list and returned him to Sacramento.

Hes swinging the bat better, Bochy said. Hes driving the ball. With where were at, this is a perfect time for him.

They have an opportunity in part because Christian Arroyo is out for likely the remainder of the season because of a fractured finger. Likewise, Stratton is getting a shot because top pitching prospect Tyler Beede is sidelined two months by a strained groin.

Hes a four-pitch guy, hes got some velo, low 90s, and when his command is sharp, he works up and down (the zone) pretty well, Bochy said of Stratton, who is 0-2 with a 7.71 ERA. Hes got a good slider and changeup. Hes got the equipment to be a 4 or 5 starter.

The Giants didnt promote left-hander Andrew Suarez because he has thrown 121 innings this season and he doesnt have to be added to the 40-man roster until after next season. Its not worth having him take up a space now when hell likely be shut down after throwing another 30-40 innings.

Perhaps the most significant future development involves Span, who couldnt make a play in the As two-run first inning Wednesday night and statistically ranks as the least effective center fielder in baseball.

Span is signed for one more season (with $13 million owed to him, including the buyout on an option for 2019), and if he is still here, Bochy left no doubt that his future would be in left field.

We had a discussion, Bochy said. Its hard to do during the season. More than likely, it happens next year. I cant tell you what will happen in the offseason. But we have talked about it.

Bochy said he is sensitive to the fact that the move from center field to an outfield corner is more difficult than one might presume, and he didnt want to throw Span into the fire. He mentioned that Angel Pagan needed an entire spring before he began to feel comfortable in left.

Bochy knows there is a pride factor as well. He has managed enough center fielders to know they often have a hard time seeing themselves as anything but a center fielder.

Jarrett Parker is back from his fractured collarbone, and played quite a bit of center field during his two rehab stints for Sacramento. But hes in left field Thursday as he makes his first start since the April 15 game in which he crashed into the wall while making a catch.

As for Hwang, he was 2 for 13 with a pair of singles in four starts upon being recalled and Bochy acknowledged the timing isnt there at the plate. Its been clear all along that the Giants werent counting on Hwang being a part of their long-term future.

Bochy said he anticipated that Hwang would return as a September call-up. But that doesnt mean Jones is free and clear at third base. The Giants have a certain Kung Fu Panda getting at-bats at Sacramento Pablo Sandoval set up his family in the Bay Area on his day off Wednesday and Bochy has said when the right time comes, itll happen.

One day after Daniel Gossett no-hit the Giants into the fifth inning in a 6-1 victory, the As sent him back to Triple-A. Its Kendall Graveman vs. Ty Blach as the Giants try to split this four-game home-and-home series with their interleague rivals.

Lineups:

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Giants notes: Bruce Bochy pulls Matt Cain from rotation, tells Denard Span his future is in LF - The Mercury News

Hull FC open their Super 8s account against Salford Red Devils at the KCOM Stadium. Sports editor James Smailes previews the game.

Asked how his side would approach the Super 8s in terms of setting goals, Lee Radford said Hull FC would wipe the slate clean and aim to be top of a new seven-game league table.

Its probably the best approach given a look down at the current Super League ladder is enough to put the frighteners on anyone outside of runaway leaders Castleford Tigers.

Lets put it in context. Should Hull lose to Salford Red Devils at the KCOM Stadium and the rest of round one go pretty much to form, FC could find themselves sixth in the table heading to St Helens next week, sitting just a point ahead of Wigan in seventh.

Such are the fine margins in this season of unpredictability and surprise, each round feels almost like a knockout game with so much riding on it.

Even Huddersfield Giants in eighth will hold a belief they can spoil the top-four party, and while those chances are slim, the race for the play-offs really is wide open.

Getting off to a good start is paramount and Hull have the chance to do just that against a Salford side who have impressed this season, but fallen off in terms of results and performance in the past two months.

The Red Devils have a point to prove after being knocked out of the Challenge Cup by Wigan and are desperate to show they can hold their pursuit of a top-four finish.

Likewise, Hull must prove lessons have been learned from last year. Theyve shown everyone the quality they possess, now they must show the necessary consistency and mental toughness to stay on course in the league as the Wembley arch looms large in the background.

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Starting the Super 8s with a win will go a long way to doing that. Just as a defeat could see Hull playing catch-up, so a win opens a three-point gap over Salford and regardless of results elsewhere keeps Radfords men in the driving seat.

As long as the performance is good enough to win was Radfords assessment of what he wants to see against Salford.

Hull dont have to play at their impressive best this evening, they just need to win and thats the case for the Super 8s as a whole.

If anything this side have shown they can turn it on when it counts in knockout games, they just need to make sure theyre in one come the conclusion of the Super 8s.

With injuries to Marc Sneyd, Mark Minichiello and Josh Bowden, Hull FC coach Lee Radford has made three enforced changes to his squad.

Jordan Thompson is expected to feature having been left out of the Challenge Cup semi-final victory, while Steve Michaels should also come into the side to allow Radford to freshen things up in his back division.

Jansin Turgut was the third alteration to the 19-man squad, but may have to sit out once again with Brad Fash in pole position to come into the 17-man squad having missed out last week as 18th man.

Salford have been dealt a blow after it was confirmed Lama Tasi has been ruled out for 10 weeks, effectively ending his 2017 season.

Its really frustrating to pick up an injury like this so late on in the season. Were coming up to crunch time with the Super 8s and to miss these sort of game is disappointing, said Tasi, who was suspended for the match at the KCOM Stadium anyway.

Fellow forward Mark Flanagan has also been ruled out for the season with a shoulder injury, but coach Ian Watson has half-back Robert Lui and centre Jake Bibby back.

Tyrone McCarthy and Manu Vatuvei are both set to make their Super League debuts.

If theres one attribute that Salford have plenty of in their locker its size when it comes to the outside backs.

The Red Devils are a big physical unit out wide, similar to Hull, and that makes the contest on either wing not just crucial but exciting to watch.

In that regard, the match-up between FCs Mahe Fonua and new Salford arrival Manu Vatuvei is going to be bring fireworks.

Vatuvei is expected to make his Super League debut having played in the Cup semi-final defeat last week. The Kiwi international is a monster out wide, but Hull have their own ace up their sleeve in that regard with Fonua.

Expect fireworks when these two clash.

Last ten meetings:

Salford 10, Hull FC 34 (SLR18, 9/6/17)

Hull FC 18, Salford 54 (SLR8, 7/4/17)

Salford 20, Hull FC 28 (SLR23, 22/7/16)

Hull FC 42, Salford 20 (SLR1, 5/2/16)

Hull FC 24, Salford 20 (SLR12, 1/5/15)

Salford 32, Hull FC 28 (SLR3, 28/2/15)

Salford 35, Hull FC 22 (SLR20, 12/7/14)

Hull FC 36, Salford 37 (aet) (CCR4, 3/4/14)

Hull FC 30, Salford 8 (SLR7, 28/3/14)

Hull FC 18, Salford 13 (SLR25, 16/8/13)

Super League summary

Hull FC won 31

Salford won 9

Hull FC highest score: 82-6 (H, 2004) (also widest margin)

Salford highest score: 54-18 (A, 2017) (also widest margin)

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Hull FC v Salford Red Devils big game preview, opinion, key battle and score prediction - Hull Daily Mail

The Octavio Zambrano era has gotten off to a near-perfect start for Canada.

Since the Ecuadorian took over the program in March, the team has yet to experience a loss. In fact, the Canucks have not tasted defeat in 2017, with the unbeaten streak extended to six games thanks to a scoreless draw with Honduras last week in Canada's final group stage match at the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

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The positivity, while modest, will continue for a few more days at least, with Zambrano's squad preparing to face Jamaica in the tournament quarterfinals on Thursday in Glendale, Ariz. It'll be the first of two meetings between the sides over the summer, as the teams will also square off in a friendly at Toronto's BMO Field in early September.

If it wasn't obvious, Thursday's match is the far more important of the two against the Jamaicans.

The Caribbean nation claimed the most recent meeting between these two sides, securing a 1-0 victory in the 2015 Gold Cup thanks to a stoppage time goal. Canada looks to exact some revenge on Thursday, riding a newfound confidence under the new coach that saw the beleaguered team finally break a number of embarrassing tournament droughts (goals, wins, advancement to the knockout stage) en route to this week's clash.

For their part, the Canadians aren't idly accepting advancement to the quarters as the end goal. Cyle Larin, the 22-year-old former MLS rookie of the year who plies his trade for Orlando City, has been summoned by Zambrano to replace midfielder/defender Raheem Edwards in the squad. The move signifies a commitment to the type of attacking soccer that Zambrano promised when he took the reins earlier this year, glimpses of which we've seen on display in the group stage.

Larin will be in tough to crack the starting lineup as Lucas Cavallini has performed admirably as a tireless force up front, harassing defenders and providing link-up play that has resulted in teenage sensation Alphonso Davies' first of three goals so far in the tournament.

Regardless, Larin will be another weapon at Zambrano's disposal, as Canada looks to claim a very realistic opportunity to move on to the semifinals of the regional competition for the first time since 2007.

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Even if Thursday is the end of the road for the Canadians, this year's Gold Cup will have to be looked upon as a success. Zambrano has managed to introduce several new players to the fold, with young players like Davies, Michael Petrasso, Samuel Adekugbe and Mark-Anthony Kaye having notable Gold Cup debuts. Along with the likes of Scott Arfield, Junior Hoilett and Steven Vitoria all veterans who are still relatively inexperienced in international play Canada has managed to give its player pool a much-needed infusion of new talent at a time when several of the more familiar faces from the past decade are transitioning away from the national team.

Zambrano's task is to essentially prepare the Canadians for World Cup qualification for Qatar 2022, which won't begin for another 2-3 years. In the time leading up to those matches, it's all about exposing young talent to the rigours of international action while forging an identity upon which the program can be based.

Gold Cup 2017 is just the first step, and there is plenty of work to be done, but it's already been a giant leap forward.

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Canada is back! Canucks ready for first Gold Cup knockout game ... - Yahoo Sports

Tim Howard has been a staple of the U.S. Mens National Team for so long that its hard to imagine a major tournament without the bearded bouncer in frame.

Hes had historic moments, inspirational messages and phone calls with the President, but it hasnt always been this way. Before Howards rise to international stardom, there was another big man on campus Kasey Keller.

The debate has long raged as to which is the more decorated U.S. keeper, but a lead may now becoming more clear.

Howard and Kellers respective club paths have some remarkable parallels. As youths, both honed their skills in leagues close to their homes. Keller, born in Washington state in 1969, played his first season of professional ball in 1989 with the Western Soccer League side Portland Timbers. Howard, born in 1979 in North Brunswick, New Jersey, started in 1998 in MLS with the New York MetroStars (who would go on to become the New York Red Bulls).

Then, both were recruited by English clubs to take their game to the next level. Howard famously joined one of the most recognizable and profitable clubs in the world in Manchester United, whereas Keller joined the London-based club Millwall. After proving himself for four years at Millwall, Keller seized his opportunity to make it into the Premier League and was transferred to Leicester City, which had just been promoted to the top-flight league in England. In his first season with Manchester United, Howard was named to the Professional Footballers Association Team of the Year along with the likes of Thierry Henry, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Steven Gerrard and current NYCFC head coach Patrick Vieira. The award is one in which the best players in their positions from the top four flights of English football are honored, a feat which Keller was never able to accomplish.

Another area that Howard has the edge on Keller in club play is that Howard has played in the UEFA Champions League. Howard played with Manchester United in the 2003-04 competition and made it all the way to the knockout round before being ousted by the eventual champions FC Porto. The highest European international club competition that Keller has played in is the Europa Cup, which he played in once with Leicester City and twice with Rayo Vallecano in the Spanish top flight league La Liga.

Both Howard and Keller played the bulk of their careers in the best leagues in the world. Howard played the entirety of his European club career in the Premier League, heading to Everton after his time with Manchester United was finished. Keller played in arguably the best three leagues in the world: the Premier League, La Liga and eventually the top-flight German league, the Bundesliga, with Borussia Monchengladbach. However, Howard played more consistently during those times. In his 13 years he appeared in 399 games abroad, while Keller played 330 in his 12 years.

Howards teams also consistently finished in better positions than Kellers. The best season result for any of Kellers teams in the top-flight leagues in Europe was his first year with Leicester City in which the Foxes finished ninth in the Premier League. Though Howard never won the Premier League title in his time, he finished third with Manchester United twice and finished as high as fifth while with Everton. The worst finish Everton ever had with Howard in the net was the 2015-16 season in which Everton finished in 11th place.

Oh, and Howard has more goals than Keller with one (if you havent seen it, I highly suggest you check it out).

Keller wrapped up his playing career in MLS, where his biggest achievement is winning a U.S. Open Cup three-peat from 2009-11. Howard is one year in to his his second round MLS service, and in his first season led the Rapids, who finished the previous season with the worst record in MLS, to the Conference Finals, further than Keller was ever able to get in his three-year MLS stint.

On the club side, Howard has had the more illustrious career in one of the best leagues in the world, and he is still in the process of writing his MLS legacy. Keller had an amazing club career, but he didnt do enough to elevate himself above Howards status.

On the international side, Kellers stats are impressive. He has the second-most caps in U.S. Mens National Team history (behind Howard), the second most wins (again behind Howard) and the most shutouts with 47. This is the biggest stat for Keller. He has more shutouts in fewer matches with the senior USMNT, so in essence he gets shutouts at a higher rate than Howard. Does this mean hes a more effective keeper?

Lets look at the results. Keller has been on the wrong side of history during his World Cup appearances for the USMNT. He was first on the U.S. World Cup squad in 1990 as a backup to Tony Meola. After not being selected in 1994, Keller was in net for two of the teams three group games in 1998, all of which were losses. The team understandably lost to Germany in the first match, but followed that game up with a 2-1 loss to Iran. Keller was replaced for the third game by Brad Friedel, who he spent much of his career battling for the U.S. keeper position, but the U.S. lost that match 1-0 to Yugoslavia and finished last in their group.

Keller backed up Friedel for the duration of the 2002 World Cup in which the U.S. advanced all the way to the quarterfinals, but got his final opportunity on the biggest of stages in 2006. That year, however, would turn out to be a disastrous World Cup for the U.S. They finished last in their group behind Italy, Ghana and the Czech Republic. Their only result in the competition came, surprisingly, in a 1-1 tie with eventual champions Italy. Howard usurped Kellers role in 2010 and hasnt relinquished it since.

In Howards subsequent World Cups, the U.S. was never eliminated in the group stage. In 2010, Howard led the U.S. to an impressive group win over England, but the team ultimately lost their first knockout game to Ghana. In 2014, the U.S. advanced to the knockout stage in impressive fashion after being paired with tough teams. They finished second behind Germany in a group that also included Portugal and Ghana. The U.S. was again bounced in the first knockout game, this time by Belgium.

If the USMNT is able to secure a berth in the 2018 World Cup, Howard will have an opportunity to cement his status as the best goalkeeper the U.S. has ever produced. His accolades from the Premier League, MLS and the USMNT all speak for themselves, and though Keller should be thought of as one the the best the U.S. has ever fielded, Howard clearly has the superior track record. If you havent been out to Dicks Sporting Goods Park to witness him play live, do yourself a favor. A generational talent like his does not come very often.

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Who's the most decorated US keeper: Tim Howard or Kasey Keller? - Mile High Sports

By Ridge Mahoney (@ridgemax)

Four months ago in a 6-0 stomping of Honduras that restored equilibrium to the U.S. Hexagonal campaign, Clint Dempsey hit a hat trick that included a sneaky free kick over the keeper to the far post.

On Saturday in a Gold Cup semifinal against Costa Rica, Dempsey eyed a free kick from somewhat familiar angle and range -- about 25 yards out in the right channel -- and once again noticed a defensive defect.

In his first go round as U.S. national team head coach, Bruce Arena had famously said of Dempsey, "He tries sh--." Last weekend, Dempsey reminded everyone that he sees sh-- as well.

In March, Dempsey exploited a positioning error by Honduran keeper Donis Escober,who stationed himself too close to the near post, a bad spot to be should Dempsey choose to go over the wall to other side, which is just what Dempsey did despite the difficulty of hitting such a shot right-footed. "I saw that he was cheating a little bit," said Dempsey after the game.

On Saturday, 10 minutes after he'd slithered past two Costa Ricans and slid a ball that Jozy Altidore drilled into the net for a 1-0 lead, he saw that the Costa Rican wall -- lined up to cover the near post -- was a man short on the near side. The player at the end of the wall is not supposed to be in line with the ball and the near post; that angle is covered by the second-to-last player. The end player blocks the lane to goal in case the shooter elects to bend the ball around the wall, and again, that is exactly what Dempsey did.

Maybe Costa Rica had deployed its wall in anticipation of Dempsey going over the top as he did against Honduras. The wall of players jumped, and in some instances the shooter will shoot low to slip the ball under the players or between their feet. Yet Dempsey was so confident of hitting that tiny spot just inside the base of the post he curled it around the man at the end, who stuck out his foot but couldn't reach the ball. Nor could keeper Patrick Pemberton.

When Arena brought in six players -- including Altidore, Dempsey and Michael Bradley -- after the Gold Cup first round while jettisoning Kelyn Rowe, Dom Dwyerand Cristian Roldan -- he confirmed his faith in experienced players facing must-win games. None of the three additions played particularly well in the first knockout game, a turgid 2-0 defeat of feisty and foul-prone El Salvador, but all were instrumental -- as was another add-on, Darlington Nagbe -- to the efficient and confident performance that subdued Costa Rica.

By coming off the bench to tie Landon Donovan's all-time U.S. record of 57 goals Dempsey also sparked talk of his role changing to that of a "super-sub." Really, Arena could do little else with Dempsey for the knockout phase, which requires three games thousands of miles apart -- Philadelphia, Arlington (Texas) and Santa Clara (Calif.) -- in eight days. No way Arena could expect Dempsey, 34, to start all three games and contribute what the team desperately needs from him: guile, savvy, vision, and an absolute belief in his ability.

From almost the day he started his pro career with New England in 2004, Dempsey has borne the labels reserved for those players who decide the outcome: "game-changer," "difference-maker," "big-time." He's also lived through barren spells of skimpy production and substantial criticism that requires a resolute persona to endure.

The hat trick against Honduras in March, which was his first U.S. appearance since being sidelined by a heart condition nearly a year ago, revived talk of him sticking around long enough to make the 23-man squad for the 2018 World Cup. Also scoring in that game was Christian Pulisic, who is treading a steady course to replace Dempsey as the main danger man in the U.S. attack, and will presumably rejoin the squad when Hexagonal play resumes Sept. 1 at Red Bull Arena against wait for it Costa Rica.

When Dempsey barked at Arena while being substituted against Trinidad & Tobago in June the U.S. soccer community -- predictably -- overreacted wildly. "Dempsey and Arena on the outs?" and nonsense to that effect sprang up everywhere. Such is the modern world.

He doesnt play in the frenzy some fans and observers would prefer, and his custom of leading with the elbows and forearms regularly draws criticism by foes and attention from referees. That's his game and when the moment comes, as it has rather often since March, he's poised to deliver.

Despite the encouraging Gold Cup showings of Rowe and Dwyer and Nagbe, there is and continues to be only one Deuce, whose jawing duels with opponents, referees and the occasional head coach, are likely to be a facet of the U.S. team for at least one more year.

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There is and continues to be only one Deuce - Soccer America