First Baseman Rafael Devers' Stint in San Francisco Has Turned Into a Circus
First Baseman Rafael Devers' Stint in San Francisco Has Turned Into a Circus
Considered to be the team's offensive leader heading into the season, the slugger hasn't live up to expectations, and his attitude hasn't been much better than his performance.Ryan Boman|San Francisco Giants first baseman Rafael Devers | Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images
There's no clowing around about it: the San Francisco Giants' 2026 season has turned into a confusing calamity. For a team that should be in contention for a Wild Card spot at this point can't even be taken seriously as an MLB team right now.
Following Wednesday's 3-1 loss to the Athletics, the club is now 32-46, 18 games behind the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers by 18 games. They remain mired in fourth place in the division, currently just two games above the Colorado Rockies.
The difference is, the Rox are on the books for around $120 million this season; 'Frisco has $225 million invested in their squad. And quite a bit of that money is tied to a slugger who has turned into a sideshow.
Rafael Devers, whom the Giants acquired in a trade with the Boston Red Sox in the middle of last season, has not only failed to live up to offensive expectations. He's also been a PR problem. The perception among many fans of the Bay Area Nine. They see the first baseman as powerless at the plate and a folly in the field.
Rafael Devers is now deflecting venom towards the media, after he disrespected his manager and a rookie teammate.
What a disgrace! What an idiot! This is even worse than the original incident itself... pic.twitter.com/qfQtT13kmY
The 29-year-old is hitting .238 with 11 home runs, 37 runs batted in, and a .732 OPS through 78 games played. He's also committed only two errors at first base, but his range is limited, and he hasn't shown an aptitude for picking throws in the dirt.
On top of that, he has been labeled in the past for being lazy when it comes to improving his glove work, something the Giants and their fans can't afford to entertain.
Devers Recent Behavior Has Been Disgraceful
Devers, hitting a home run against the Chicago Cubs | Matt Marton-Imagn Images
Devers had a reputation as being a ringleader in the Red Sox offense during his time in Beantown, but his time under the Bay Area big top has been unproductive and unserious. He looks nothing like a leader and more like he's juggling who he was in Boston with what he has become today.
Whether it's an attitude or issue or he simply doesn't enjoy playing for the Giants organization, the former visage of Devers looks like it's been held in front of a funhouse mirror. It's a distorted version of his previous accomplishments.
And his recent on-field antics, where he seemingly refused to be lifted for a pinch runner, late, in a close contest? It would take a contortionist to twist the incident into 'no big deal'. But in yet another example of his lack of accountability, Devers attempted to anyway.
When asked about the situation in an interview, Devers threw mud at the media, stating that it was the media blowing things out of proportion and “it’s a reflection of why I really don’t talk you guys, to the media.”
"You guys just blow everything out of proportion, and I think that's a reflection of why I really don't talk to you guys."
After explaining his side of Sunday's saga, Rafael Devers expanded on why he isn't a big fan of media. pic.twitter.com/QefO1VXsfR
This carnival of confusion has left the Giants trapped with a poor record, payroll problems, and the most frustrating star just ignoring most of the show playing out in front of him. And it's caused Devers to receive massive backlash in San Fran. They say everybody loves a clown. But in the case of Giants fans, not when that clown is their most important player.
Ryan K Boman is a freelance writer and the author of the 2023 book, Pop Music & Peanut Butter: A Collection of Essays Looking at Life with Love & Laughter. His previous work has appeared at MSN, Heavy, the Miami Herald, Screen Rant, FanSided, and Yardbarker.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
RYAN BOMAN
