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Giants call up Dan Uggla to start vs. Dodgers

By WTOP Staff

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Dan Uggla needed a fresh start. The San Francisco Giants needed a healthy second baseman who could step in and produce.

Both are hoping they can solve each other’s problem.

A week after being released by the Atlanta Braves and just days after signing a minor league deal with San Francisco, the Giants purchased Uggla’s contract from Triple-A Fresno. They put him in the starting lineup for the opener of a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night.

“I know what I bring to a clubhouse. I know what I can bring on the field, and I’m just looking forward to going out there and having fun with the guys,” Uggla said after slipping into his newly stitched No. 22 Giants uniform. “No added pressure here on my end. I’ve been in some dark places and battled my own struggles the last year and a half. But that’s over now. I’m here to have fun.”

The Giants have had little production from their second basemen this season.

Marco Scutaro and Ehire Adrianza were placed on the 15-day disabled list before the game. Scutaro’s strained lower back has kept him out for all but five games this season — though the Giants are still hopeful he can come back — and Adrianza has a strained right hamstring that is considered minor.

As a result, the Giants signed Uggla to a minor league deal Monday. They also designated left-handed pitcher Jose De Paula and infielder Nick Noonan for assignment Friday to make room for Uggla and infielder Tony Abreu, who was also called up from Triple-A.

Uggla went 2 for 7 with two walks and an RBI in two games for Fresno.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy had hoped Uggla could play more in the minors before calling him up. The latest round of injuries just didn’t allow it.

Bochy said he’s hoping Uggla can pull off a turnaround similar to the kind Pat Burrell and Jeff Francoeur did after signing with San Francisco in the middle of recent seasons.

“Sometimes change is good,” Bochy said. “We like taking a look at players who have a track record, and he has an outstanding track record. You look for them to be available, and really, the timing was perfect for us.”

Uggla will cost the Giants only $500,000. The Braves are responsible for the $18 million he’s guaranteed over the rest of this season and next season.

The 34-year-old second baseman has 233 career homers and a .244 average. He had five straight 30-homer seasons for the Marlins and Braves from 2007-11 and has made three NL All-Star teams.

But since 2012, Uggla has hit just .196 with 43 homers and 143 RBIs in 1,101 at-bats. He said he’s working on “staying short” in his swing instead of trying to hit home runs.

“We’re human. We’re going to fall out of whack sometimes,” Uggla said. “We have to get ourselves back into the right places some way or another. And for me, that’s just trying to get the barrel to the ball and staying as short as I can.”

More than anything, Uggla is excited for another opportunity in the majors.

He has some familiarity with his new teammates, playing with pitchers Tim Hudson in Atlanta and Yusmeiro Petit with the Marlins, but otherwise the Giants offer a clean slate.

Uggla said he was excited to play in front of the nightly sellouts at AT&T Park. He compared the feelings before his debut with San Francisco to opening day.

“Anytime you do have an opening day or a first game, that’s kind of similar to the butterflies you get on opening day. It’s a fresh start,” he said. “I’m excited about it. I got all the right nerves going, the anxious, excited-ness going. I’m looking forward to getting it going.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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