Month: April 2017

MLB Podcast The Show with Matt Harrington: Hamilton released from Rangers; Nats Harper hitting .400; Mad Bum will sit at least two weeks

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

04 APR 2016 file photo: Texas Rangers Outfield Josh Hamilton (32) who was released on Friday Apr 21st is introduced prior to the MLB Opening Day game between the Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington, TX. (Photo by Andrew Dieb/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)

On MLB The Show Podcast with Matt Harrington:

#1  Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers was released due to a right knee injury and more than likely will not return to baseball as this could be his retirement send off. Hamilton who played for the Rangers and had a brief stint with the Los Angeles Angels before returning to the Rangers again this time for the final time. One of Hamilton’s memorable moment was a sad one when he tossed a ball into the stands and a fan who was with his son fell out of the bleachers to his death. Hamilton had drug issues and tried to overcome it several times.

#2  The Washington Nationals Bryce Harper took the New York Mets pitcher Matt Harvey deep with his sixth home run of the season. Harper is having a great start to the season and is hitting .400 thus far.

#3 The team that’s not having a great April is the last place San Francisco Giants a team snake bitten now with pitcher Madison Bumgarner (0-3) out for at least ten days at last report with a dirt bike injury. The Giants brass is looking at this seriously as players are beholden from being involved in hard sports activities that could leave serious injuries that can leave them out of action.

#4  The A’s who lost four straight have made a come back with three straight wins Matt takes a look at the turnaround

Matt Harrington does the MLB podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

San Francisco Giants podcast with Jeremy Kahn: Will Mad Bum’s joy ride be considered a contract clause violation?

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

pinterest.com file photo: Madison Bumgarner is known for doing some heavy lifting and other physical activities in the off season but the Giants do not want players doing such things which would result in injuries which could be construed as a violation of their contract

On the Giants podcast with Jeremy Kahn: Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner who got hurt dirt bike riding is under evaluation from the team doctors. the severity of Mad Bum’s injuries are his pitching shoulder and ribs was looked at and the initial report has Mad Bum will be on the 10 day DL.

#2 Mad Bum has had a tough start going 0-3 dropping his first three games  despite pitching well in the 3.00 ERA range he didn’t get much run support in those games. It was reported that Bumgarner is out indefinitely.

#3 You might remember Jeff Kent the former Giant had a motorcycle accident when he played for the Giants and his contract agreement for extracurricular activities was questioned at the time. You can be assured that Giants team vice president Brian Sabean and general manager Bobby Evans are not please with Bumgarner’s dirt biking and possible consequences could be coming down which the team could refuse to pay him for the duration of his absence.

#4 With the injury to Bumgarner we ask Jeremy how much pressure there is going to be on Matt Cain to step up in Bum’s absence

#5 Will Angel Pagan get any love any reconsideration about a return to the Giants? Jeremy says no Pagan has already stated he wants to spend time with his family.

Jeremy Kahn does the Giants podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

San Francisco Giants day off report: Giants look to regain form in Colorado

Published on by jeremy2878Leave a comment

AP file photo: San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Johnny Cueto who starts on Friday night in Colorado throws to the plate against the San Diego Padres during the first inning of a baseball game in San Diego, Sunday, April 9, 2017. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

By Jeremy Harness

If the Giants are to get things back on track, they’re not exactly in the ideal position to do so.

They currently sport a sub-.500 record after splitting a two-game series with the Kansas City Royals, and they are heading to a place that has not been very kind to them in the past, to say the very least.

The Giants head to Denver to face the Rockies for a three-game series that starts Friday night. To make matters worse, Colorado is currently on top of the National League West with a 10-6 mark.

The Giants, however, should go in with a great deal of hope, due to the fact that they have right-hander Johnny Cueto taking the ball for Friday’s opener, as he goes up against righty Tyler Chatwood (1-2, 3.54 ERA).

Cueto has been by far the Giants’ best starter thus far, as he has won each of his three decisions this season and has an ERA of 3.79.

Chatwood, however, is trending on the positive side as well, and the Giants should be quite familiar with that. He beat them in his last start on Saturday, throwing a complete game two-hit shutout in the process while walking only one batter and striking out four.

Not like it’s a surprise, but Nolan Arenado leads the Rockies with a .356 batting average and has hit six home runs and driven in 11 runs. Gerardo Parra is not that far behind him, with a .300 average with six RBI so far this season.

 

The A’s rally to beat the Seattle Mariners and James Paxton 9-6

Published on by rxsluggerLeave a comment

Oakland Athletics’ Trevor Plouffe (3) celebrates his three-run home run with teammates in the dugout during the seventh inning of the team’s baseball game against the Seattle Mariners on Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

by Jerry Feitelberg

Oakland- The A’s started Cesar Valdez Thursday night against the Mariners. Valdez, who is 32 years old, last started a game in the Major Leagues way back on June, 10th, 2010. He pitched well in spring training and 1-0 with an ERA of 2.70 at Nashville. Valdez was filling in for Kendall Graveman and probably will be headed back to Nashville soon. Valdez has an average fastball, but his curveball and changeups have a lot of movement and are effective. The Mariners, winners of five of their last six games, tallied three runs in the first two innings Thursday night. The A’s came back and won 9-6.

The Mariners, as mentioned above, led 3-0 until the bottom of the third. The A’s scored three times to snap Paxton’s streak of 23 consecutive scoreless innings to start the season. Jaff Decker and Rajai Davis singled to put men on at first and third with no out. Adam Rosales singled to drive in Decker. Davis scored when right fielder Mitch Haniger’s throw to third hit the second base bag and that allowed Rajai to score. Ryon Healy doubled to drive in Rosales to tie the game.

The A’s scored two more in the fifth to send Paxton to the showers. Rajai Davis singled to center, but the ball took a weird bounce and went through the legs of Leonys Martin in center. Davis ended up on third. Rosales hit a sac fly to drive in Davis.  Jed Lowrie Doubled and scored on a Ryon Healy single to put the A’s ahead 5-3. The Mariners’ shortstop, Taylor Motter, homered with a man aboard to tie the game at five. The A’s regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth when Josh Phegley led off with a double. Jaff Decker laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Phegley to third. Rajai Davis ground out, and that allowed Phegley to score.

The A’s behind two walks, and a blast to deep left field by Trevor Plouffe put the A’s ahead 9-5. The A’s bullpen of Ryan Dull, Sean Doolittle, Ryan Madson kept the Mariners off the board until the ninth. Santiago Casilla gave up a run but was able to close out the game.

Game Notes- The A’s, with the win, improved to 8-8 for the season. The A’s now own a modest three-game winning streak. The Mariners fall to 7-9. Ryon Healy was the hitting star with three hits and a couple of runs batted in. Cesar Valdez went four innings and allowed five hits and three runs. Frankie Montas pitched the fifth and sixth innings and gave up the two-run dinger to Taylor Motter.

Game two of the four-game series takes place Friday night at the Oakland Coliseum, Lefty Sean Manaea will go for Oakland, and he will be opposed by Hisashi Iwakuma. Game time is at 7:05 pm.

Time of game was three hours and ten minutes and a sparse crowd of 10,707 watched the A’ win.

Sharks Let Two Goals Lead Slip Away, Face Elimination After Oilers Take Game Five 4-3 in OT.

Published on by Matthew HarringtonLeave a comment

San Jose Sharks goalie Martin Jones kneels on the ice as Edmonton Oilers’ David Desharnais celebrates his game-winning goal during overtime of Game 5 of a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series, Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Edmonton, Alberta. The Oilers won 4-3. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

By Matthew T.F. Harrington

The San Jose Sharks now face a must-win game Six Saturday night after falling to the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 in overtime Thursday Night. David Desharnais scored the game-winner with 1:45 left in the extra session to give Edmonton their third win in the best of seven series and the Oilers erased a 3-1 deficit, scoring 3 unanswered goals to shift pressure from their shoulders to the Sharks.

Martin Jones was brilliant in net with the Sharks scuffling to mount any offensive pressure over the final period and overtime. The San Jose netminder made 7 saves in the third and an astounding 13 in overtime to keep the Sharks in the game. Mikkel Boedker, Patrick Marleau and David Schlemko scored for the Sharks.

Patrick Maroon staked the Oilers to a 1-0 lead 5:28 into the first, but Boedker finished off a tic-tac-toe play from Chris Tierney and Marcus Sorensen just under five minutes later to tie the game. Boedker had been scratched the previous two games but had a solid game after returning to the lineup with a goal and an assist. Patrick Marleau scored with 4:08 left in the first to give the Sharks a 2-1 lead.

Playing in his hometown in front of family and friends, David Schlemko scored what at the time was an insurance goal for the Sharks 8:38 into the second after his point shot beat Cam Talbot. A failed penalty kill would lead to Edmonton cutting into the lead though.

With just one second remaining in a Timo Meier holding minor, Brent Burns appeared to have a chance to clear the puck. Instead, his backhander went up over the glass for a delay of game. After some puck movement, Mark Letestu was able to put the puck behind Jones to pull Edmonton within one with 1:27 left in the second.

The Sharks offense began to stall as the second expired. After firing 16 shots on Talbot in the first, they’d muster only 5 in the 2nd. In the third, they fired 7, though none were grade-A chances. The Oilers held most of the possession for the final period, so when Oskar Klefbom netted his second goal of the series on a point rocket with 2:46 left in regulation to tie the game few were surprised.

The Sharks continued to chase the puck into overtime, but Edmonton couldn’t make them pay with Jones standing on his head making numerous save of the year candidates. Ultimately, Desharnais would slip underneath Tomas Hertl, skating unimpeded to the net with a clear passing lane given to Leon Draisaitl. Draisaitl, who was fined but not suspended for his spear in game 4, put the puck on Desharnais’ tape for the one-time goal and a game 5 win.

The Sharks now face a do-or-die game six Saturday at the Shark Tank. They’ll hope for a similar outcome to game 4 at the Tank where they hung 7 unanswered goals on the Oilers.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s back on track with two straight wins now try to tackle M’s starting tonight

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland Athletics pitcher Jesse Hahn throws against the Texas Rangers during the first inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, April 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

On the A’s Podcast with Jerry Feitelberg:

The A’s loss on Monday 7-0 was their fourth in a row and they had not been playing well and coming back on Tuesday they won 4-2 they got a great pitching performance on that day from A’s starter Andrew Triggs and yesterday A’s pitcher Jesse Hahn pitched very well going six innings two hits, one earned run. The A’s have started to right the ship they looked a lot better on Tuesday and Wednesday with Triggs and Hahn. The A’s open a series with the Seattle Mariners the first of four games starting Thursday night.

Jerry does the A’s podcast each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Sports Headlines podcast with Tony Renteria: Hernandez was not murdered as attorney had assessed; also A’s and Giants commentary

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

inmateaid.com photo: Illustration of dimensions of Aaron Hernandez prison cell

On the Sports Headlines podcast with Tony:

Aaron Hernandez’ death was ruled a suicide and written notes from the former New England Patriots wide receiver were found in the same cell that Hernandez was reported to have hanged himself. There were three hand written notes next to the Holy Bible that was in the same cell with Hernandez and the verse John 3:16 was written in blood on Hernandez’ forehead. The tracks of the prison cell door was stuff with cardboard to impede the prison guards from gaining entry. A medical examiner Henry N Nields had determined that the cause of death was by asphyxia and that the prison guard said Hernandez was locked in his cell by 8PM the night in question and that at 3:00 AM he was discovered by the guard staff hanging in his cell. Hernandez attorney Jose Baez has requested that an independent autopsy on Hernandez be performed by well know medical examiner Dr. Michael Haden.

Tony also takes a look at the A’s and Giants latest performances.

 

 

Quakes Earn Draw Against Revoultion 0-0

Published on by joelamiLeave a comment

news.sportslogo.com photo

By: Joe Lami

The San Jose Earthquakes and the New England Revolution played to a goalless draw on Wednesday in Boston. Goaltenders, David Bingham and Cody Cropper, are to thank, as both sides saw chances at net but the keepers made some magnificent saves in the 0-0 draw.

New England out-shot San Jose 15-8, with a 6-3 margin in on target shots. Despite some stellar goaltending, there was also a bit of sloppiness on the offensive side of the ball, with Chris Wondolowski whiffing on a grade-a chance in the 23rd minute. Just seconds later, Danny Hoesen hit the frame, as the transfer is still looking for his first in a Quakes kit.

San Jose should find themselves lucky, escaping the hostile territory with a point, New England had their chances but didn’t throw enough on target.

With the draw, San Jose remains above the playoff line in the Western Conference table in fifth place. They’ve earned nine points in seven games, going 2-2-3 so far this season, but they need to start turning draws into wins if they want a chance at the MLS postseason.

San Jose has a quick turnaround, as their next draw is on Saturday in Houston, who remains ahead of them in the standings.

Extra Dribbles: Without Durant, Warriors wallop Trail Blazers in Game two 110-81

Published on by jhawkes51Leave a comment

Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry drives to the basket against the Portland Trail Blazers during Game 2 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series Wednesday, April 19, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images via AP, Pool)

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
Sports Radio Service Writer

OAKLAND — Even without star forward Kevin Durant, who didn’t play due to a left calf strain, the Golden State Warriors were able to impose their will in dominating fashion to take a 2-0 lead over the Portland Trail Blazers 110-81 Wednesday night at Oracle Arena.

Game 3 is Saturday night in Portland.

Check out my takeaways below that led to Golden State’s win in the best-of-7 first-round series:

The Splash Brothers were just damp in Game 2

Stephan Curry (6 of 18 FG) led Golden State with 19 points and Klay Thompson (6 of 17 FG) added 16 points, but the duo combined to shoot just 12 of 35 from the floor (7 of 20 3FG).

Curry couldn’t find the bottom of the basket in the first half, shooting 2 of 10 from the floor with 6 points and 4 assists, while Thompson started cold in the first half, knocking down just 3 of 9 from the floor for 8 points.

Patrick McCaw, who started in place of Durant, had nine points and five rebounds.

I don’t expect the Warriors prized backcourt to have another slow shooting night, especially in Portland, where Golden State will be greeted by a rabid Moda Center in prime time.

Golden State jumped out to a 33-17 lead in the first quarter, shooting 13 of 22 from the field on 11 assists, before finishing with a 31 to 17 assist advantage over the Trail Blazers.

The Warriors turned up the defense in the opening frame, holding Portland to just 6 of 21 from the field.

Golden State’s biggest lead of the game was 32 points 96-64 midway through the fourth quarter.

Draymond Green is always on time: Although he didn’t score 19 points tonight as he did in Game 1 finishing with just 6, Green was up to his old tricks again filling up the stat sheet.

Green recorded 12 rebounds and 10 assists in Game 2, a nice follow up to his 19 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists in Game 1.

Center of attention: There are still times where I scratch my head and wonder how are the Warriors making lemonade out of their weakest position, center?

JaVale McGee actually led Golden State in scoring at halftime, piling up 15 points on 7 of 7 shooting. Granted, a bunch of those shots were putbacks and one spin-move that left Trail Blazers center Noah Vonleh’s head spin.

McGee scored 6 points on 3 of 4 shooting in Game 1 before coming alive for the Warriors in Game 2.

Throw in Zsa Zsa Pachulia’s 10 points on 5 of 8 shooting, James Michael McAdoo’s 7 points on 2 of 5 shooting, and Damian Jones’s free throw, Golden State’s big men contributed 33 points on 14 of 20 shots from the floor.

The Warriors controlled the paint, outscoring Portland 50 to 36 inside and held a 54 to 47 rebounding edge.

There is no secret that the loss of center Jusef Nurkic has been a glaring hole for Portland, who are hoping that the big man could suit up when the Trail Blazers return home for Games 3 and 4.

After gigantic performances in Game 1, Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum were duds in Game 2: Look, the writing is on the wall for the Trail Blazers. Portland has a backcourt that is comparable to the Splash Brothers, but they can’t do it by themselves.

After combining for 75 points on 52% shooting (7 of 15 3FG) in Game 1, Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum couldn’t carry Portland in Game 2 as Lillard and McCollum combined for 23 points on 9 of 34 from the floor.

Golden State put the clamps on Portland’s dynamic backcourt after the pair were virtually un-guardable in Game 1.

McCollum finished with a career playoff-high with 41 points while draining four 3-pointers, but was just 4 of 17 from the floor.

Lillard was missing in action as the Warriors held the Oakland product to just 12 points on 5 of 14 shooting.

Lillard and McCollum are fantastic scorers, but it was forward Maurice Harkless who led Portland with 15 points and eight rebounds in Game 2.

Shabazz Napier was the only other Portland player in double digits with 10 points. Allen Crabbe shot just 3 of 10 in Game 2, finishing with just 6 points and was 0 of 4 from beyond the arc.

This was Golden State’s 12th win in their last 13 meetings with Portland in the postseason. The last time Portland defeated Golden State in the playoffs, it was in Game 3 of last season’s Western Conference Semifinals.

 

 

 

San Francisco Giants Wednesday game wrap: Royals Vargas shut out Giants 2-0; Royals-Giants split two game set

Published on by jeremy2878Leave a comment

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Jason Vargas throws during the first inning of the team’s baseball game against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, April 19, 2017, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

By Jeremy Harness

The Kansas City Royals got some payback from losing to the Giants in the 2014 World Series. Well, sort of.

In the rematch of their Fall Classic showdown three years back, the Royals came out on the victorious side this time around, as they shut out the visiting Giants, 2-0, at Kauffman Stadium Wednesday night.

The Giants have earned quite a penchant for making ordinary starting pitchers look like All-Stars, and on Wednesday night, it was Jason Vargas’ time to shine. The left-hander (3-0) threw seven innings of four-hit ball, striking out nine and not walking a single batter.

In fairness to the Giants, Vargas has been on quite a roll lately, as he also shut out the A’s Thursday night while tossing another seven innings, that start coming at home as well.

The Giants did not threaten Vargas at all, and as a result, they made Madison Bumgarner, who turned in one of the greatest pitching performances of all time in clinching the World Series against these Royals in 2014, a hard-luck loser for the second straight start.

The lefty (0-3) only gave up a single run – which came courtesy of an infield single by Mike Moustakas that brought home Paulo Orlando in the bottom of the fifth – over six innings on seven hits, walking only one and striking out four.

No Giant had any more than one hit while three Royals – Moustakas, Orlando and Salvador Perez – each had a pair of hits on Wednesday.

On the plus side, the Giants earned a split of the brief two-game series in Kansas City, as they won on Tuesday. Now they will head to Colorado to face the Rockies for a three-game series that starts Friday.