Month: May 2014

Vogelsong lights out once again

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By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-Pablo Sandoval continues his hot hitting against that is thrown to him at the plate, and he proved that in his first at-bat of the evening.

Sandoval homered off Samuel Deduno in the bottom of the second inning, as the San Francisco Giants defeated the Minnesota Twins 2-1 before a crowd of 41,724, the 270th consecutive regular season sellout at AT&T Park.

This was the Giants fifth straight win in interleague play against zero losses, as they look to complete their second consecutive interleague sweep on Sunday afternoon.

Last month, the Giants swept the Cleveland Indians from April 25-27 and next face an interleague opponent on June 17, when they travel to the South Side of Chicago to face the Chicago White Sox for a quick two-game series.

It was the fourth home run in the last six games for Sandoval, and continues to stay hot after beginning the season 19-for-114, a .167 clip.

Ryan Vogelsong went 6.2 innings, allowing zero runs on three hits, while walking just one and striking out seven, as he won for the third time this season against two losses.

This was the first interleague for Vogelsong since June 15, 2012, when he defeated the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field

Over his past six starts, Vogelsong has thrown 40 innings, a 1.35 earned run average with 35 strikeouts.

In his last 13.2 innings, opponents have not scored against the right-hander and the last time he allowed a run was to the Atlanta Braves on May 13, a 5-0 loss at AT&T Park.

Vogelsong did not allow a run to the Miami Marlins on Sunday afternoon in seven innings of work, as the Giants would go to defeat the Marlins 4-1.

Despite the early home run to Sandoval in the bottom of the first inning, Deduno settled down, as he went 5.2 innings, allowing two runs on four hits, walking three and striking out four; however his record fell to 1-3 on the season.

Sandoval added a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth inning, driving Angel Pagan from third base, who led off the inning with a single, advanced to second on a Hunter Pence walk and to third on a Buster Posey Fielders’ Choice that retired Pence at second base.

Josmil Pinto broke up the shutout in the top of the ninth inning, as he took a Sergio Romo over the left field wall for his seventh home run of the season.

Romo settled down to retire Jason Kubel on a groundout to shortstop, Eduardo Escobar struck out for the second and former Oakland A’s catcher Kurt Suzuki ended the game via a groundout to Romo, who picked up his 16th save of the season in 18 opportunities.

Warriors arena at Mission Bay: With Prop B losing in the polls could W’s have waited after the election for Piers 30-32?

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by Jerry Feitelberg

Proposition B the initiative to limit height restrictions at San Francisco’s Waterfront for any construction over 40 feet unless voter approved was winning with authority prior to the Golden State Warriors land purchase at Mission Bay for their new arena after forfeiting relocating to Piers 30-23 after political pressure from the Waterfront neighborhood.

Prop B was being touted by former San Francisco Mayor Art Agnos, former Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin and Prop B campaign co-chairman Jon Golinger as a shoo in winner in the June election.The tables have since turned and in an odd turn of events as recent polls suggest since the Warriors announced their move to Mission Bay that 1,000 San Franciscians surveyed and 845 who were registered to vote in the city 31 percent were in favor of the measure and 33 were against.

At the time previous to the Warriors purchase of Mission Bay, Prop B was winning at a significant margin some reportedly at almost double of the current polls at close to 60 percent. That number has tapered off now at 31 percent. The Warriors had they not have purchased Mission Bay Prop B might have passed easily.

The Warriors could have made the announcement that they would not build at Piers 30-32 and waited for the election results, if Prop B was to fail they could have had a shot at Piers 30-32. Since the Warriors did purchase Mission Bay land for their new arena voters took it as a victory and abandoned the Proposition as if it won already. Therefore a great number of voters polled previously will not be showing up to the polls in June to vote for Prop B leaving those opposed in the bigger margin.

Since purchasing Mission Bay things have definitely quieted down for Golden State as Agnos and the Waterfront neighborhood are satisfied with the Warriors Mission Bay choice. However the Warriors could have said they wouldn’t build at the Waterfront and waited for the election results to see if B would pass and then make a decision then. A SurveyUSA poll showed that Prop B was losing 29-25 percent another SurveyUSA poll showed those who said they were committed to vote would defeat Prop B 32-27 percent. The San Francisco election is on June 3rd.

Golinger said, “A lot of people think we already won, I have litterally gotten that on the phone” and so with that thought in mind voters who were going to vote in favor of B will not show up at the polls to vote in favor of the measure leaving the opposition a chance to defeat the measure.

While it’s already too late for the Warriors as they are now committed to Mission Bay, the Giants would be free to build their towering retail and condo mega village near AT&T in Parking Lot A and Forest City which owns the real estate at Pier 70 would be freed up too to build towering retail and condos and with no height limits in the way if B loses and they would be free to build the towers they wanted for that local in the Dog Patch neighborhood off third street.

The real losers in this would be the Warriors who could have had an brand new arena at Piers 30-32 just like they wanted if they waited out the election and not have had purchased the land at Mission Bay, but too late they already are committed to Mission Bay.

Jerry Feitelberg is covering the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings new arena developments for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Comeback Falls Short, A’s Lose To Blue Jays 3-2

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TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 23: Brett Lawrie #13 of the Toronto Blue Jays is thrown out at second base trying to strecth a single into a double in the fourth inning during MLB game action as Nick Punto #1 of the Oakland Athletics tags him out on May 23, 2014 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA – MAY 23: Brett Lawrie #13 of the Toronto Blue Jays is thrown out at second base trying to strecth a single into a double in the fourth inning during MLB game action as Nick Punto #1 of the Oakland Athletics tags him out on May 23, 2014 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

By Kahlil Najar

TORONTO – After winning the 11 of the past 13 games, the Athletics rallied in the eighth but were unable to secure the victory and lost to the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2. Brandon Moss hit his 11th homer of the year in the fifth and Alberto Callaspo scored two in the eighth for the A’s total offense on the night. Scott Kazmir (5-2) earned his second loss of the year as he gave up five hits in seven innings including a two run home run to Steve Tolleson.

Toronto’s starting pitcher Liam Hendricks earned his first victory of the year and went 5 2/3 innings and only surrendered one run and three hits.

Jed Lowrie, who went 1 for 4 on the day had this to say about Hendricks,”He was able to move his fastball around and elevate it. It looked like he kept guys just a little bit off balance.”

Toronto took the lead in the second when Steve Tolleson took a 3-1 fastball deep to left field, his first of the year. The bottom of the third saw Toronto get their game winning run. After Kevin Pillar hit his second double of the year, Kazmir threw a ball to second base trying to pick off Pillar but no one was home and Pillar moved to third. Jose Reyes came up next and hit a ground ball to second base that scored Pillar and gave Toronto a 3-0 lead.

“I should have held on to it,” Kazmir said. “It ended up being the difference-maker in the game.”

Brandon Moss put the A’s on the board when he took a change up from Hendriks deep to right field and made it a 3-1 game. Callaspo gave the A’s a pair of runs in the top of the eighth but it was already too late and the A’s lost 3-2.

Saturday’s game isn’t any easier as Toronto sends R.A. Dickey (4-4) to the mound against Jesse Chavez (4-1).

 

 

Sandoval and Hicks go deep in win

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San Francisco Giants' Pablo Sandoval hits a three-run home run off Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Kyle Gibson in the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 23, 2014, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
San Francisco Giants’ Pablo Sandoval hits a three-run home run off Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Kyle Gibson in the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 23, 2014, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-Brandon Hicks and Pablo Sandoval each liked swinging against Minnesota Twins starter Kyle Gibson.

The first pitch Sandoval saw from Gibson, he planted onto the arcade in right field in the bottom of the first inning and the San Francisco Giants would go on to defeat the Twins 6-2 before a crowd of 41,514, the 269th consecutive regular season sellout at AT&T Park.

Hicks struck out against Gibson in his first at-bat against the right-hander in the bottom of the second inning, but in his next at-bat in the bottom of the fourth inning it was a different story.

The second baseman hit a Gibson pitch into the left field seats for his eighth home run of the season, extending his career high for home runs that was previously three for the Oakland A’s during the 2011 season.

Tim Lincecum went six innings, allowing two runs on five hits, walking six and striking out four, as he upped his record to 4-3 on the season.

Gibson went five innings, allowing five runs on five hits, walking four and did not strike out a batter before he was pulled for a pinch-hitter in the top of the sixth inning.

Angel Pagan got the ball rolling for the Giants in the bottom of the first inning, as he doubled to led off the inning against Gibson.

Hunter Pence then singled to deep shortstop, and despite being called out at first base for the first out of the inning, Bruce Bochy challenged the call and after just 33 seconds, the call was reversed by the umpires.

Buster Posey then hit into a Fielders’ Choice that retired Pagan at home plate, then Sandoval sent the Gibson offering onto the arcade for his fifth home run of the season.

Joe Mauer got the Twins on the board in the top of the third inning, as he tripled into Triples’ Alley in right-center field to Brian Dozier from first base, who led off the inning with a single.

Chris Parmelee drove in the second Twins run of the inning, as he grounded out to Hicks at second base to easily score Mauer from third base.

Pence gave the Giants a two-run lead in the bottom of the third inning, as he reached on a Fielding Error by Eduardo Escobar at shortstop.

Hicks gave the Giants a three-run for the second time in the game, as he took Gibson deep for his eighth home run of the season.

Brandon Crawford led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a triple that just eluded a diving Parmelee in right-center field.

Hicks then drove in his second run of the evening, as he hit a sacrifice fly to give the Giants their final run of the evening.

The Twins tried to threaten in the top of the eighth inning, as they were able to get two runners on against Javier Lopez, who gave up a double to Escobar and then walked Aaron Hicks; however Jean Machi came onto replace Lopez and was able to get pinch-hitter Josmil Pinto to ground into a inning-ending double play.

No Shock in Spokane for San Jose

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Photo Courtesy SJ SaberCats
Photo Courtesy SJ SaberCats

By Emily Zahner

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON—The San Jose SaberCats (7-3), riding a four game winning streak, took on the Spokane Shock (5-5) tonight at the Veterans Memorial Arena in Spokane, Washington. Riding in with confidence and less impactful injuries, the Cats took the win 49-34. With the added offensive power of Reggie Gray, who returned from injury tonight, the Cats made easy work of Spokane. With the loss of their MVP quarterback Erik Meyer, the Shock have been putting up low numbers lately, and tonight was no exception. However, coming into the game tonight, San Jose didn’t come in with any low expectations. The Shock hold the edge over the season series between the two teams, leading 5-3.

The first half was all Cats. The first period saw the Cats go up 14-6, followed by an equally offensive second, ending with San Jose up 28-13. San Jose didn’t let up until the final whistle. Scoring 14 points in each of the first three quarters, San Jose gave themselves a lead that would give them the victory. Spokane was equally as consistent, but on the opposing side of the score sheet; scoring 6, 7, and 7 in each of the first three periods. The Shock made it interesting in the fourth, outscoring the Cats 14-7.

Spokane seemed out of sorts without the leadership of QB Erik Meyer. Brian Zbydniewski completed 24 of 42 passing attempts, good for 303 yards and two touchdowns, and two sacks. Meanwhile, Russ Michna performed on the other end of the scoring spectrum. Michna completed 17 of 29 passes, good for 4 touchdowns and 218 yards.

In his return to the lineup, Reggie Gray received 8 passes good for 83 yards, completing one touchdown. The next best on the team was Jason Willis, with two received passes and 40 yards and a touchdown. San Jose has now won five games in a row, improving to a 7-3 record.

The Cats have a bit of a break before heading down to Arizona to take on the always impressive Arizona Rattlers on May 31st at 6:30pm.

Kings downtown arena: Arena opponents determined to block $255 M “secret subsidy” by the city

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Photo Courtesy SacBee
Photo Courtesy SacBee

by Jerry Feitelberg

Sacramento Citizens lawyers Patrick Soluri and Jeffery Anderson told the Sacramento City Council on Friday that they will continue their lawsuit to pursue blocking the subsidy that will pay for the city’s share for the Sacramento Kings new arena of $255 million, the Kings share is $222 million. Soluri and Sac Citizens were turned down by Sacramento Superior Court Judge Timothy Frawley in their attempt to stop the city from paying $255 million out of public subsidies.

Souluri during the meeting with the city council argued that the Kings are benefitting from back room deals that were’nt part of the subsidy. Soluri also said that the parking garages owned by the city should not have been part of the subsidy as well. The city plans to use parking revenue to help pay back the $255 million subsidy.

Frawley said that the term sheet that was voted on by the city council last year approving the arena terms was not binding. Frawley had indicated as much on Thursday and that he would toss out the Sac Citizens lawsuit. The City said that the garages are in bad shape and that they are in need of repairs and that the garages are worthless and shouldn’t be counted on the term sheet as an expenditure of the subsidy.

The Citizens group argued that the secret subsidies included the garage, but there was nothing secret about the city garages being part of the deal as Soluri and Anderson argued. Also that erecting digital advertising billboards on city property also should not be part of the subsidy.

Dawn McIntosh an attorney representing the city said that all the terms was aired on TV, radio, newspaper print, and internet and that there was no secret back room deal made concerning the subsidy by the city’s part, (there was full disclosure through the media concerning) “any secret deal they think might have happened” said McIntosh.

In Feburary Frawley ruled that arena opponents who tried to have signed petitions to get a ballot measure to question if public monies should be used for any new sports or entertainment facilities be built on the public’s dime was thrown out because the ballots were legally flawed. Frawley was assigned to preside over the “secret subsidy” hearing which he tossed out the arena opponents arguement Friday.

The lawyers also argued against the Kings getting city owned land valued at $32 million and that the city had valued the billboard and garages at zero. This fight isn’t over yet according to Soluri and Anderson who are putting together a voter referandum that would overturn the city council’s vote last Tuesday to approve construction on the new arena. The City Council approved the new arena in a 7-2 vote. The city argued that the financial term package can’t be part of the referandum.

Jerry Feitelberg is covering the Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors arena developments for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs:After win Canadiens still need to fight their way out of NY;Hawks & Kings game 3 match up

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by Larry Leavitt

Montreal vs. New York: The Canadiens game three, overtime win 3-2 in New York was a hard fought. The battles were big a lot of hitting and a lot of extracurricular activity, there were a number of non calls by the refs. The game was fast, there was a lot of pressure on New York on the Canadiens defense.

The Habs defense stood up to the task and the key thing is the last three goals. The Canadiens scored on a deflection that banked off the back boards towards the net and one of the Rangers kicked it in on the Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundquvist.

At the opposite end with just seconds left to go,the Candadiens could not hold off the six on five with Habs goaltender Dustin Tokarski pulled again. The Rangers shot a bank shot, a fluke goal off the back of a Canadiens skate and into the net that tied it up at 2-2 all.

Of all things the final goal actually flipped up in the air and almost hit a Canadien in the throat and came right back down and went into the goal. The Habs will take a goal anyway they can take one. If you got a win, you got a win and it doesn’t matter how the puck went in as long as it goes in and it’s legal.

Chicago vs. Los Angeles: The Blackhawks really had the Kings on the road at the United Center for the first period and a half and they actually let the Kings back into it in game two for the 6-2 loss. Then the flood gates opened in the third period when the Kings scored all those unanswered goals.

The Kings have the momentum in this series, the Hawks had a lot of chances and they just didn’t bury them in the back end of the net. In the playoffs you’ve got to take advantage of it every chance you can get.

The Hawks are a good team and their not out of it, it’s just that watching the game you couldn’t believe that Chicago wasn’t not taking advantage of all the chances they had.Of course as the teams got worned down the Kings started coming back, wow they came back with a vengence.

The thing about the Hawks is they have so much depth, it’s not just the first, second or third lines. Everybody on Chicago is equally as important. Although the big names Marion Hossa, Jonathan Toews, and the second and third line guys are keeping the pressure on. The Hawks have talent up and down the line up and the Hawks are not one team that’s going to just roll over.

Larry Leavitt is covering the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Rodriguez blast lifts Rays past A’s

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By DANIEL DULLUM
Sports Radio Service
Thursday, May 22, 2014

Tampa Bay’s Sean Rodriguez smacked a dramatic three-run home run with two out in the bottom of the 11th inning Thursday, lifting the Rays past Oakland 5-2, salvaging the third game of their midweek series against the Athletics at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Rodriguez hit his team-leading fifth homer of the season off A’s reliever Luke Gregorson after Desmond Jennings delivered a two-out game-tying single off losing pitcher Dan Otero (4-1).

The loss ended Oakland’s five-game winning streak, and snapped Tampa Bay’s four-game skid. It was also the Athletics’ second loss in their last 13 games.

Rays’ reliever Josh Lueke (1-2) finished the 11th inning to get the win. The A’s took a 2-1 lead in the top of the 11th on a sacrifice fly by Yeonis Cespedes, who also drove in the first Oakland run with an RBI double in the ninth inning off TB closer Grant Balfour.

Tampa Bay took a 1-0 lead in the seventh inning on an RBI single by Yunel Escobar.

A’s starter Sonny Gray tossed eight innings to reduce his American League-leading earned run average to 1.99. Alex Cobb, making his first start for the Rays since April 12, threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings. Cobb has spent 35 days on the disabled list with a strained left oblique.

Cobb also tied a Rays record with his third consecutive scoreless start.

Tampa Bay’s rally in the ninth ended on a replay. Jennings was ruled to be caught stealing after the play was originally ruled safe. The replay challenge took two minutes and 13 seconds.

A’s ACORNS: Oakland OF Coco Crisp and SS Jed Lowrie returned to the Athletics’ lineup after both were sidelined with sore necks. … The A’s travel to Toronto for a weekend series. On Friday, LHP Scott Kazmir (5-1) faces Blue Jays knuckleballer R.A. Dickey (4-4). … A’s INF Eric Sogard will distribute eye glasses to over 50 deserving children on Tuesday, May 27, at Franklin Elementary School in Oakland. Sogard, one of the few major leaguers to wear glasses on the field, will make the visit in conjunction with Vision To Learn, a nonprofit that provides free eye exams and glasses to children in low-income communities.

Giants rained out; Casilla to miss considerable time

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By Jeremy Harness

The Giants and the Colorado Rockies had to wait out a long rain delay on Thursday, but the rain just did not stop in time for the game to continue, as the game was halted in the bottom of the sixth due to the wet weather.

The teams were deadlocked at 2-2, and there was no immediate date to finish the game.

Michael Cuddyer started the scoring in the second inning, as his infield single scored Willy Rosario. However, the Giants roared right back in the fourth with two runs to take the lead, as Hunter Pence launched a solo homer over the right-field wall while Pablo Sandoval added a run-scoring double to give the Giants a 2-1 lead.

Colorado tied the game in the fifth inning, as Rosario hit into a double play while Nick Arenado scored.

Meanwhile, the Giants got the diagnoses back for both of the pitchers who suffered hamstring injuries in Wednesday’s game.

Matt Cain suffered a Grade 1 strain – considered a mild strain -and is not expected to miss much time. However, reliever Santiago Casilla was diagnosed with a Grade 2 – or medium – strain and is expected to miss about four weeks due to the injury.

Casilla was injured running out a ground ball in the ninth inning of Wednesday’s 5-1 win over the Rockies. He was the second reliever to be injured on the basepaths this year, as David Huff strained his left quadriceps while getting his first major-league hit April 21 and ended up missing 18 games.

The Giants come back home to start a three-game series at AT&T Park on Friday against the Minnesota Twins. Tim Lincecum (3-3, 4.74 ERA) will take the hill for the Giants, facing Minnesota righty Kyle Gibson (4-3, 4.20 ERA).

The Twins are currently two games over .500, a position that they have not been in since they won the American League Central title four years ago.

Michael Duca on A’s and Giants: A’s line up has different star everyday; Is Tulowitzski getting help in hitting .550 at home for May?

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by Michael Duca

Oakland A’s update: The first thing you have to do if your willing to work for A’s General Manager Billy Beane and manager Bob Melvin is you have to understand that your going to be used in the way that you might be used by other ball clubs.

The A’s were big on versatility, depth, platooning,and are using guys in ways that will allow them to succeed and A’s catcher Derek Norris might end up hitting .400 at best this year but he might get 400 at bats and hit .325. Which is much better than hitting the extra 100 at bats or 150 at bats.

A’s third baseman Josh Donaldson is very solid at third base particularly when you consider that he started his career as a catcher and not that long ago, he came up to the Major Leagues as a catcher. He’s hitting .270 you don’t want to let that fool you because his on base percentage is a much higher number than that.Donaldson is driving the ball with authority and he’s driving the ball out of the ball park and key times.

A’s manager Bob Melvin not one to gush about the success of this team and it’s almost laughable to think that Melvin has a single gush in him anywhere. Melvin is as low key as you can possibly be. He let’s his players go out and have fun and do the gushing for him. Guys come and guys go and they don’t miss a beat, Johnny Gomes is there and is the heart and soul of the team and is gone and immediately a player like Josh Reddick now is that heart and soul.

SF Giants update: Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow was not coming right out and saying that the Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki was getting stolen signs which lends to some suspicions as to why Tulowitzki is hitting at a .550 clip at home at Coors Field and Kruk said you have to wonder, “Tulowitzki right now is swinging the bat better than anyone in this game, and I’m thinking it’s so good that you have to be a little skeptical how he does it.”

It’s the third week of May and almost the fourth week of May and Tulowitzki is hitting over .550 at home. You have to chew on that one for a little while for that to make sense to you. He’s hitting over .550 at home, that means for every hit that the A’s Josh Donaldson has got this year Tulowitzki has two.

Signs when stolen are stolen by third base coaches from catchers who don’t hide them well enough, that’s not that easy on a consistent basis. So if there is signs really being stolen their being stolen by the aid of some kind of equipment some place in the ball park.

The biggest sign stealing controversy was the 1951 New York Giants who went on a rampage to catch the Dodgers after being 13 games out in August and it persisted there was some kind of sign stealing going on despite the fact that there was the evidence that the Giants had hit better on the road than they did at home.

In both cases in Denver or at the Polo Grounds which you have to realize is centerfield is about a mile and half away and in Denver the scoreboard is in left field and it’s not in center field. So it’s not that easy to hide somebody.

What you have to have there is have a spotter scope and a high powered set of binoculars because if you zoom in close enough to see a catcher’s signs your going to have to have them on a tripod in order not to wobble so much that you can’t see.

There may be little proof on how Tulowitzki is doing it but he’s hitting a super human skill this month.

Michael Duca does A’s and Giants commentary each week for http://www.sportsradioservice.com