Month: July 2019

A’s blow out the Mariners 10-2

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By: Ana Kieu

OAKLAND — The Oakland A’s and Seattle Mariners played the second game of a two-game set at the Oakland Coliseum on Wednesday afternoon.

The A’s starting lineup featured starting pitcher Homer Bailey, who made his debut as an Oakland Athletic, as well as Marcus Semien, Matt Chapman, Matt Olson, Mark Canha, Ramon Laureano, Khris Davis, Jurickson Profar, Chad Pinder and Josh Phegley.

After a scoreless first inning, the Mariners opened the scoring for a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Dylan Moore tripled to Mark Canha and Tim Beckham scored on the play. Shortly after, the M’s made it 2-0 on a Dee Gordon single that scored Dylan Moore.

But the A’s tied the game 2-2 in the bottom of the second inning. Jurickson Profar hit a game-tying home run that scored Ramon Laureano.

The A’s announced that Matt Chapman left the game in the top of the third inning with left ankle soreness. After that, the A’s went ahead 3-2 on a Mark Canha home run in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Mark Canha resurfaced in the bottom of the sixth inning with a home run. The A’s took a 4-2 lead.

The crowd cheered when Chad Pinder hit a three-run home run that scored Ramon Laureano and Jurickson Profar in the bottom of the sixth inning. The A’s were up 7-2.

Ramon Laureano hit a home run to give the A’s a 8-2 lead in the bottom of the eighth inning. Moments later, Jurickson Profar hit his second home run of the game and his 13th of the season to help the A’s to a double-digit 10-2 lead.

After two hours and 49 minutes of play, the A’s blew out the Mariners by a final score of 10-2.

Today’s attendance was 19,161.

The A’s head to Target Field to take on the Minnesota Twins for a four-game series. Game one will be played on Thursday at 5:10 pm PT.

San Jose Earthquakes podcast with Marko Ukalovic filling in for Ana Kieu: Let’s check up on the Quakes!

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Photo credit: @SJEarthquakes

On the San Jose Earthquakes with Ana:

1. The Quakes beat the LA Galaxy 3-1 at the Dignity Health Tennis Center last Friday.

2. Vako, Jackson Yueill, and Matias Almeyda made the MLS Team of the Week for Week 19.

3. Quakes loaned Jimmy Ockford to Nashville SC of the USL Championship.

4. In club friendly action, the Quakes tied with Valladolid 1-1 at Avaya Stadium Tuesday night.

5. The Quakes head to BC Place to take on Vancouver Whitecaps FC this Saturday.

Ana Kieu does the San Jose Earthquakes podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Earthquakes and Real Valladolid play to 1-1 draw in club friendly at Avaya

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Photo credit: @SJEarthquakes

By: Ana Kieu

The San Jose Earthquakes and Real Valladolid played to a 1-1 draw in a club friendly at Avaya Stadium on Tuesday night.

The Quakes’ starting lineup featured Andrew Tarbell, Nick Lima, Francois Affolter, Harold Cummings, Marcos Lopez, Luis Felipe, Kevin Partida, Eric Calvillo, Paul Marie, Shea Salinas, and Danny Hoesen.

Sandro Ramirez opened Real Valladolid’s preseason with a noteworthy free kick for the opening goal of the match in the 35th minute. Just four minutes later, Samu Perez made a nice save when he was the only opposition from Shea Salinas to score.

The Quakes had their chances, just needed to finish. San Jose trailed 1-0 at the end of the first half.

The Quakes made their first substitution in the 46th minute as Guram Kashia entered the match for Harold Cummings.

The Quakes made even more substitutions in the 57th minute as Magnus Eriksson, Chris Wondolowski, Vako, and Jackson Yueill entered the match for Eric Calvillo, Danny Hoesen, Nick Lima, and Kevin Partida.

Turns out, Quakes head coach Matias Almeyda made the right choice in Quakes star Chris Wondolowski. Wondolowski, the MLS’ goal king, scored the game-tying goal to even the score 1-1 in the 60th minute.

The Quakes made a substitution in the 68th minute as Judson entered the match for Luis Felipe.

The Quakes made another substitution in the 81st minute as Siad Haji entered the match for Shea Salinas.

Quakes goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell made a tremendous save in the 86th minute to fend off a potential go-ahead goal from Nacho. Nacho almost scored inside the box.

San Jose and Real Valladolid played to a 1-1 draw. The Quakes showed sportsmanship and told their foreign opponent “good game” since Real Valladolid is a La Liga team based in Valladolid, Spain.

The Quakes head to BC Place to take on Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday, July 20 at 7:00 pm.

A’s continue to roll as they down the Mariners 9-2

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — The A’s continued their winning ways as they won their fifth in a row to down the Seattle Mariners 9-2 at the Oakland Coliseum on Tuesday night.

This was the 14th game of the season between the two teams. Even though the Mariners entered the game with a record of 39-58, they held a 7-6 advantage over the A’s. The M’s sent lefty Marco Gonzalez to the hill to stop the A’s. Gonzalez had beaten the A’s three times this year and was hoping to win his fourth. The A’s Daniel Mengden was given the task of slowing down the Seattle offense.

Seattle took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second when catcher Omar Narvaez led off the inning with a solo homer. It was his 15th of the year and the third in his last two games against the A’s. Narvaez has taken over as the guy that loves to kill the A’s. Mitch Haniger had that role, but he is on the injured list.

The A’s plated two runs in the bottom of the third. With one out, Josh Phegley singled. Marcus Semien doubled to put men on at second and third. Matt Chapman singled to drive them in to put the A’s ahead 2-1.

The A’s put three on the board in the fifth. Gonzalez retired the first two A’s hitters he faced. With a 3-2 count on Marcus Semien, Gonzalez threw a pitch that appeared to be strike three. Home plate umpire Brian O’Nora took a step back and looked as if he was going to call Semien out on strikes. He didn’t, and Semien had a free pass. The Matts, Chapman, and Olson, went back-to-back to put the A’s ahead 5-1. For Chapman, it was his 22nd of the year. For Olson, it was his 20th.

The A’s scored one on the sixth. Ramon Laureano doubled with one out. Laureano took off for third. Gonzalez threw behind him to second baseman Dee Gordon. Gordon’s throw to Kyle Seager was not on the mark and sailed past Seager. That miscue allowed Laureano to score. The error was the 96th of the year for the M’s They have committed more errors than any other team in baseball this year.

In the seventh, Semien doubled when his blooper to right field fell in safely as three Mariners had a chance to make the putout. Chappie doubled to drive in Semien. Chappie has five RBIs in the game. The onslaught continued as Oakland scored two more in the eighth. Singles by Laureano and Pinder put men on at first and second. The runners advanced on a wild pitch, and both scored on Phegley’s single.

With two out in the ninth and Blake Treinen pitching, Omar Narvaez continued his hot-hitting against the A’s when he homered again. Treinen retired the next batter to end the game.

Game Notes: With the win, the A’s improve to 54-41. They have won five in a row, 13 out of the last 16, and 18 out of the previous 23. The A’s are tied with Cleveland for the second Wild Card slot and trail the Tampa Bay Rays by one game for the first slot. They also gained a game on the AL West leader Houston Astros and now trail them by 4 1/2 games.

Daniel Mengden won his fourth game in a row and is now 5-1 for the year. Mengden has not walked a batter in his last three starts.

Asked what his secret to success was, Mengden replied: “Keep them off balance and go from there.”

Mengden threw strikes on the first pitch to 16 of the 25 hitters he faced. He went 7 innings and allowed four hits and one run. The only mistake he made was the gopher ball that he served to Omar Narvaez. Gonzalez went six innings and allowed seven hits and six runs. He is 10-8 for the year.

Matt Chapman hit his 22nd dinger and has knocked in 59 so far. Matt Olson hit his 20th and has an 11-game hitting streak going.

Umpire Brian O’Nura left the game after the end of the fifth inning. He had been complaining of blurred vision to the trainers, and after missing the call, he went to the trainer’s room for treatment. Jame Hoye took over calling balls and strikes.

Time of game was two hours and 44 minutes and 18,718 fans watched the A’s win again.

Up Next: The A’s sent J.B. Wendelken to Las Vegas to make room for Homer Bailey who was acquired in a trade with the Kansas City Royals on Sunday. Bailey will make his A’s debut Wednesday afternoon against the Mariners at 12:37 pm.

Dickerson picks up a career-high 4 hits in Giants’ 8-4 win

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By Jeremy Kahn

Alex Dickerson is showing the world of baseball that the San Francisco Giants were thinking right when they signed him to a minor-league contract.

Dickerson picked up a career-high four hits, including the game-winning hit in the top of the 10th inning, helping the Giants to an 8-4 victory over the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

The inning got off to a rough start, as Brandon Belt flew out to center to lead off the inning against Wade Davis, but then Buster Posey got the rally started, as he walked, as did Pablo Sandoval and then Dickerson lined a single to score Posey and send Sandoval to third base.

Brandon Crawford then extended the lead, as he singled to left-center to score Sandoval and Dickerson ended up on third base.

That was it for Davis, as Bryan Shaw came to replace Davis on the mound and it did not get better, as Mike Yastrzemski singled to center that scored with the third run of the inning. Kevin Pillar then reached on a fielding error by the usually stellar Nolan Arenado at third base that allowed Crawford to score the fourth and final run of the inning.

Despite walking Charlie Blackmon in the bottom of the 10th inning, Mark Melancon was able to shut the door on another Giants victory, as they have three in row, five out of six out of the All-Star Break and are now tied with the Rockies for third place in the National League West.

This game went to extra innings, as closer Will Smith blew just his second save of the season, as he gave up two home runs in the bottom of the 9th inning that allowed the Rockies to tie up the game at four.

Trevor Story cut the Giants lead in half, as he led off the inning with a solo home run and after Arenado flew out to right, Daniel Murphy singled and then Ian Desmond hit a two-run home run that was estimated at 467 feet to tie up the game.

Luis Tapia then singled to put the winning run on base, but then Smith struck out Ryan McMahon and Tony Wolters to end the inning and the threat.

Yastrzemski gave the Giants a 4-1 lead in the top of the ninth, as he hit an opposite field home run, his seventh of the season.

Drew Pomeranz was in line for the win, as he went five innings, allowing just one run on just three hits, walking one and striking out four; however, he ended up with a no decision.

Yastrzemski got the Giants on the board in the top of the second inning, as he doubled for the first of his three hits that scored Dickerson.

Joe Panik added a second RBI in the inning, as he reached on an infield single that scored Yastrzemski.

Story cut the Giants lead in half, as he hit into a fielders choice that scored Garrett Hampson from third base.

Dickerson extended the lead in the top of the eighth inning, as he singled to score Belt.

Pillar once again made a couple of great catches, one that saved Wolters from getting extra bases in the bottom of the eighth inning and snared a sinking line drive off the bat of Story in the bottom of the 10th inning.

NOTES: Johnny Cueto, who is currently on the 60-day injured list after undergoing Tommy John surgery is expected to begin throwing in rehab games next month. Cueto, who underwent the surgery on August 2, 2018 could pitch for the Giants before the end of the season.

Evan Longoria, on the 10-day injured list with plantar fasciitis in his left foot will be re-evaluated by Giants team doctors when the team returns to the Bay Area.

Sam Coonrod, who was the 26th man for the Giants in Mondays doubleheader sweep was sent back to Sacramento along with Dereck Rodriguez, who picked up the win in the nightcap of the doubleheader and the Giants have recalled Andrew Suarez from the Rivercats.

UP NEXT: Shaun Anderson will end the road trip, as he take the Coors Field for the first time in his career, as he looks to improve on his 3-2 record, while the Rockies will send Jon Gray in the series finale, as they try to avoid the sweep.

Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason: Are Steelers a better team without Brown and Bell?; 49ers’ Gould signs for 4 years and $19 million; plus more

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On Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason:

#1 NFL camp will start July 26th and the Pittsburgh Steelers have dealt Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell to start a new. Will moving Brown and Bell help or hurt the Steelers?

#2 The San Francisco 49ers reached a deal with kicker Robbie Gould on Monday. Gould said he wanted to leave San Francisco to play for the Chicago Bears when he realized that dream couldn’t be fulfilled, so he signed a deal with San Francisco for four years at $19 million.

#3 New York Yankees reliever Luis Severino is ready to come back to relieve or start. Severino said he’s happy in either role.

#4 In baseball Monday night, the San Francisco Giants in the first game of a doubleheader crushed the Colorado Rockies 19-2. Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford went 5-6 with two home runs.

Barbara Mason does Headline Sports each Tuesday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Venus Williams joins player field for the 2019 Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic

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By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams has joined the player field for the 2019 Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic, July 29-August 4 at San José State University. This will be Williams’ 15th appearance at the event and her second consecutive at San José, having advanced to the quarterfinals last year.

Williams, a two-time singles champion at the event, will be the featured evening session match (Session 4) on Tuesday, July 30 at 7:00 pm.

Tickets for the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic, which returns for its second year at San José State, start as low as $36 and are on sale now at www.MubadalaSVC.com.

“We are very excited to have Venus join our player field,” said Tournament Director Vickie Gunnasson. “She is a tennis icon and tremendous ambassador for the sport. Having her competing at the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic is truly special and boosts our already great player field.”

A winner of 49 career WTA singles titles, Williams enhances an already star-studded line-up that includes fellow Grand Slam winners Garbiñe Muguruza, Victoria Azarenka, and Jelena Ostapenko.

Six of the women in this year’s player field have already won singles titles in 2019. Overall, the list of players have combined to win 115 career WTA singles titles.

Other featured players coming to San José include defending champion Mihaela Buzarnescu, 2018 finalist Maria Sakkari, 17-year-old French Open semifinalist Amanda Anisimova, World No. 7 and Wimbledon semifinalist Elina Svitolina, World No. 10 Aryna Sabalenka, Chinese No. 1 Qiang Wang, Belgian star Elise Mertens, and Australian Open semifinalist Danielle Collins.

In addition to the impressive list of WTA players set to compete in San José, the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic will be hosting four former ATP stars as part of the Invesco Series on Saturday, August 3 following the evening women’s semifinal match.

The Invesco Series is a legends tour event that features three one-set matches consisting of two semifinals and one final. The line-up for the San José event is one of the best of the legends season and includes 2003 US Open champion Andy Roddick, 1989 French Open champion Michael Chang, 10-time ATP tour winner James Blake and 11-time tour singles champion Mark Philippoussis.

Now entering its 49th year, the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic is a weeklong WTA Premier event bringing the worlds of tennis and technology together in a festival of sports and entertainment. Highlighting the best the region has to offer, the tournament showcases locally sourced cuisine, fine wine and cheese selections, interactive fan exhibitions, premier hospitality options, and of course, incredible tennis action.

Featuring a 28-player singles draw as well as a 16-team doubles draw the tournament boasts $876,183 in prize money and serves as the opening women’s event of the US Open Series.

With several different ticket options available, the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic has something for everyone. To purchase tickets go to www.MubadalaSVC.com or call 1-866-982-8497.

ABOUT THE MUBADALA SILICON VALLEY CLASSIC
The Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic is the longest-running women-only professional tennis tournament in the world and is the first women’s stop of the US Open Series. Owned and operated by IMG, the WTA Premier event features a 28-player singles draw and a 16-team doubles draw with total prize money of $876,183.

ABOUT MUBADALA
Mubadala Investment Company actively manages a worldwide portfolio supporting the vision of a globally integrated and diversified economy, through sustainable returns to its shareholder, the Government of Abu Dhabi. In March 2018, Abu Dhabi Investment Council (ADIC) joined the Group. Mubadala’s US $225 billion portfolio spans five continents with interests in aerospace, ICT, semiconductors, metals and mining, renewable energy, oil and gas, petrochemicals, utilities, healthcare, real estate, defense services, pharmaceuticals and medical technology, agribusiness and a global portfolio of financial holdings. Mubadala is a trusted partner, an engaged shareholder and a responsible global company that is committed to ethics and world-class standards. For more information about Mubadala, please visit: www.mubadala.com.

ABOUT THE US OPEN SERIES
Now in its 16th season, the world’s best players on the WTA and ATP Tour are coming together for the US Open Series. Linking seven summer WTA and ATP Tour tournaments to the US Open, the US Open Series serves as a true “regular season” of hard court tennis. Featuring a cohesive schedule, the Series centralizes the way tennis is viewed in North America, across multiple television and digital platforms. Fans will see today’s top champions go head-to-head with tomorrow’s emerging stars, as storylines develop throughout the summer season. Each tournament also engages its local community with a variety of outreach initiatives, including grass-roots youth tennis clinics and activities.

ABOUT IMG
IMG is a global leader in sports, fashion, events and media, operating in more than 30 countries. The company manages some of the world’s greatest sports figures and fashion icons; stages hundreds of live events and branded entertainment experiences annually; and is a leading independent producer and distributor of sports and entertainment media. IMG also specializes in sports training and league development, as well as marketing, media and licensing for brands, sports organizations and collegiate institutions. IMG is part of the Endeavor (formerly WME | IMG) network.

ABOUT SAN JOSÉ STATE UNIVERSITY
The founding campus of the 23-campus California State University system, San José State provides a comprehensive university education, granting bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in 250 areas of study — offered through its eight colleges. With more than 33,000 students and nearly 4,370 employees, San José State continues to be an essential partner in the economic, cultural and social development of Silicon Valley and the state, annually contributing 10,000 graduates to the workforce. The university is immensely proud of the accomplishments of its more than 260,000 alumni, 60 percent of whom live and work in the Bay Area.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: A’s rise from last place to making a run at the Astros

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Photo credit: @Athletics

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The A’s are making a run at second place in the AL West and chasing the Houston Astros after having a rough first half. They came on strong in the closing weeks of the first half now in sight for a wild card and just six games back behind the Astros.

#2 The San Francisco Giants are another team that has been making noise. They have won 11 of their last 12 games and they didn’t waste any time in Colorado, taking out the Rockies in a doubleheader on Monday.

#3 If the Giants were to trade Madison Bumgarner, would he be a second half trade rental?

#4 The Tampa Bay Rays have won five of their last six games, including two wins over the New York Yankees on July 4th and 5th. The Rays are in a heated battle with the Yankees, which started Monday night.

#5 The Chicago Cubs had won five of their last six games going into Monday night’s game with the Cincinnati Reds. The Cubs are holding a two-game lead in the NL Central.

Amaury Pi-González is a pioneer in establishing Spanish baseball radio play-by-play in the Bay Area that dates back to 1970s. The Spanish broadcast for 72 games are heard on KIQI 1010A/990AM with studios in San Francisco, serving also the Sacramento/Stockton market and does That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com 

Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O : A’s on 4-game win streak and 1 1/2 games back for a wild card

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Photo credit: @Athletics

On the A’s podcast with Charlie O:

#1 The A’s are on a tear. They are winners of their last seven of eight games and on a four-game win streak.

#2 The A’s are getting some key and timely hitting to name of few of the key hitters of late in the lineup like Marcus Semien .272, Matt Chapman .274, Matt Olson .254, returning back from the IL Khris Davis .235, and Mark Canha .254.

#3 The A’s are just a 1 1/2 out of first place behind the Tampa Bay Rays and tied with Cleveland for second place in the AL Wild Card chase.

#4 The A’s even capitalized on an error to win Sunday’s game at the Coliseum on a ground ball and Chad Pinder running at first for the A’s. The White Sox Shortstop Jose Rondon fielded the ball, but threw past second baseman Yolmer Sanchez to allow Pinder to score all the way from first base.

#5 The A’s open a two-game series on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Coliseum against the Seattle Mariners. Starting for the M’s, Marco Gonzalez (10-7, 4.24 ERA), and for the A’s, Daniel Mengden (4-1, 4.73 ERA).

Charlie O does the A’s podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Craw Goes Cray Cray: Giants’ Crawford piles up 3 homers, 9 RBI in Giants’ sweep of Colorado

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By Morris Phillips

Trying to form the best characterization of the San Francisco Giants mid-July 2019, and can’t seem to quite get it right using terms like buyers, sellers, winners or losers?

You’re not alone.

But try this phrase: movers, as in the Giants are riding a historic, offensive awakening and moving up in a crowded, but opportunity-filled National League Wild Card chase. On Monday, the Giants snatched a pair from the Rockies, winning 19-2 and 2-1 in a day/night doubleheader at Coors Field.

The formerly, offensively-challenged Giants have averaged better than seven runs per game in road contests since June 1, that after they piled up 24 hits and 21 runs on the Rockies, then cruised, going scoreless over the final five innings of the night cap, in which they pitched and defended in a 2-1 victory.

At 45-49 they’re not exactly winners, but they’re not losers either. The Giants are red hot, having won 10 of 12. As for moving up, the Giants are now just three games behind the Cardinals, who currently own the second wild card spot by percentage points over the Phillies.

With such a dramatic turnaround for a club that remains in last place in the NL West, and still has five clubs between themselves and the Cardinals, the occasion of the sweep is no time to tackle the Herculean effort needed to continue the ascent to a playoff berth. But it is an opportunity to celebrate Brandon Crawford, who smacked three homers in the twin bill. In the first game, Crawford became the first ever big league shortstop to compile five hits and eight RBI in a single game.

“I’m seeing the ball well,” Crawford said. “You expect to get hits when that happens.”

Crawford didn’t stop there. He and Stephen Vogt homered consecutively in the fourth inning of the second game, all the offense the Giants needed in a 2-1 win. Dereck Rodriguez was gifted the spot start and shined, going five inning while allowing four hits and a run.

Jeff Samardzija pitched into the seventh inning in the opener, picking up the win while allowing four hits (two home runs allowed) and striking out nine. Samardzija was awful in three, previous starts at Denver, but not this time. The veteran hurler evened his record at 7-7, and navigated his way through a 13-0 lead after four innings, and 16-1 through six.

Rockies manager Bud Black removed his starter German Marquez in the third inning after he allowed 11 hits and 11 runs. With four games between the clubs in a tight, three-day window, Black was in no mood to burn his bullpen. That’s when he turned to first baseman Mark Reynolds to pitch the ninth inning, and the slugger made it through in 21 pitches, but allowed the final two runs of the game. Afterwards, Black couldn’t recall ever in his career as manager and as a pitching coach resorting to using a position player to pitch.

“I really don’t like to do it, but I felt in this game I needed to because of saving arms in the pen and knowing where we are in the season, and what we have in front of us,” Black said.

After the first game of the doubleheader, the Giants had compiled 90 runs in their previous 11 games, the most runs the team has scored in an 11-game span since they moved to San Francisco in 1958. They had never scored as many as 19 runs in a game at Coors Field until Monday.

NOTES: Evan Longoria was placed on the 10-day injured list due to a plantar fasciitis issue in his left foot. For Longoria, the timing of the injury couldn’t be worse; the slugger just came off a stretch where he homered six times in 11 games, his hottest stretch in a year-plus as a Giant.

The trade front continues to heat up, especially in regards to Will Smith. The Brewers are rumored to be the Giants’ most likely trade partner for the closer, and the Giants’ win streak probably will not keep Smith from being moved, but with the Giants playing well, the team will likely listen to other suitors, and may only move Smith to an AL club that they don’t have to compete with in the wild card race.

As for Madison Bumgarner, the trade market continues to revolve around prospects at the lower levels of the minor leagues. With the market so tepid for the iconic San Francisco pitcher, would the Giants consider keeping him for the stretch run, and then resigning him in the off-season? The Giants’ hot streak definitely creates the possibility of some other options for the 2014 World Series hero.