Month: July 2020

Salinas’ late heroics complete improbable comeback in Earthquakes 4-3 win over Whitecaps

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Chris Wondolowski Shea Salinas of the San Jose Earthquakes celebrate after beating the Vancouver Whitecaps 4-3 in Major League Soccer’s MLS is Back tournament in Orlando, Florida (au.news.yahoo.com photo)

by Marko Ukalovic

ORLANDO, Fla- Sometimes a head coach has to take drastic measures and take a gamble to spark his team.

Shea Salinas has had a flare for the dramatics during his Earthquakes storied career. He scored the game winning goal eight minutes into stoppage time in the second half as the San Jose Earthquakes, down by two goals twice in the match, defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps 4-3 in their second match of Group B play on Wednesday evening at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex.

Salinas won a 50/50 ball near midfield. He dribbled all the way in from 40 yards out, outmanuevred the ball past three Whitecap defenders inside the box, then fired a shot past Whitecaps goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau for his first goal of the season, giving his team their first win of the 2020 season.

San Jose (1-1-2) were so flat-footed for the first 45 minutes of the game, no one thought the Quakes would have the tenacity for such a combeack. Vancouver controlled play as they came out with an attacking agressiveness against the lifeless Quakes.

Vancouver (1-2), playing in their first Group B match, caught San Jose sleeping in the 7th minute of the match. No one marked left back Ali Adnan as the Iraqi national team memeber dribbled in from the right into the middle and fired a right-footed shot to the back of the far corner for his first goal of the season.

Then at the 22nd minute, the Quakes allowed an embarrassing own goal from Judson. A turnover created a breakaway opportunity for forward Yordy Reyna. As he raced down the pitch , he pulled up inside the box and his centering pass went off the foot of a trailing Judson into his own net for a 2-0 lead for the Whitecaps.

San Jose finally woke up in the second minunte of extra time as they cut the lead in half off a set piece. A centering pass off a corner kick found Andy Rios who deflected the ball off the back of his right heel past Crepeau for his first goal of the season.

The Quakes started off the first 10 minutes of the second half strong with the majority of play in the Whitecaps defensive zone as they created nuerous corner kick opportunties. However they weren’t able to get a quick eqaulizer.

Just when San Jose had momentum on its side, a horrible mistake led to Vancouver’s second two-goal lead. Goalkeeper Daniel Vega made a lackadaisical pass out to the right side where David Milinkovic intercepted the ball and centered a pass over Cristian Dejome who buried the ball into the back of the net for his first goal of the season.

Quakes head coach Matias Almeyda had seen enough of the lackluster play from his starters as he made four consecutive substituions in the 63rd minute when he instilled Chris Wondolowski, Danny Hoesen, Shea Salinas and Carlos Fierro.

The strategy paid off immediately as San Jose took control of the game. Nine minutes later Hoeson’s centering cross was deflected high in the air and Wondo, who was unmarked, jumped up and headed the ball past Crepeau for his first goal of the season.

Wondolowski increased his league record to 160 career goals.

San Jose scored the equalizer in the 81st minute. Once again the set piece was kind to the Quakes. Magnus Eriksson bent in a perfect cross off a corner kick into the middle where Oswaldo Alanis headed the ball into the back of the net for his second goal of the season.

Vancouver, who played the match without four of their forwards, were stunned beyound belief and could only look back at blowing their two goal lead in the last 18 minutes of the second half.

GAME NOTES: San Jose dominated the game in corner kicks (22-4) and shot attempts (30-7). They also won the possession battle 67.8% to Vancouver’s 32.2%.

Four yellow cards were issued by referee Marcos de Oliveira with three to San Jose (Cristian Espinoza, Jackson Yueill and Fierro) and one to Vancouver (Jasser Khmiri).

UP NEXT: The Quakes finish Group B play when they take on the Chicago Fire FC on Sunday 7/19 at 5:00pm at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex.

Headline Sports podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Blackhawks Crawford “unfit for play”; A look at the Ted Lindsay Award winners; plus more

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Corey Crawford in goal for the Chicago Blackhawks has not been in camp and is listed “unfit to play” Crawford has had a bout with two concussions over the last two seasons. (AP Photo)

On Headlines podcast with Marko:

#1 Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford is has been ruled “unfit to play” Crawford had suffered two concussions and had missed 80 games over the last two seasons.

#2 Crawford had split the goalie duties with Robin Lehner, Lehner was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights on Feb 24th. Crawford did play in the last eight games before the season was suspended on March 12th.

#3 The Chicago Blackhawks say their mascot name actually honors an actual Native American they refuse to change the name and mascot of the team. The actual Native American was Black Hawk of Illinois’ Sac and Fox Nation. The Blackhawks have been under pressure to change the name.

#4  Marko talk about the NHL Ted Lindsay Award finalists Leon Draisaitl Edmonton Oilers, Nathan MacKinnon Colorado Avalanche, and Artemi Panarin New York Rangers lots a hard work and achievement for these three to arrive as finalists for this award.

#5 Safety protocols and lots of precautions set up as the NHL season will start up on August 1st in the two Canadian bubbles Toronto and Edmonton. The circumstances are different as the players have to use all sorts of precautions to stay safe but frankly this is a physical game which calls for checking and contact do you see a lot of that being taken out of the game.

Join Marko Wednesdays for Headline Sports podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Yasiel Puig with Los Bravos

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Former Cleveland outfielder Yasiel Puig is headed to the Atlanta Braves after signing a deal with Atlanta (sportscasting.com file photo)

Yasiel Puig with Los Bravos

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

The Cuban-born outfielder who was rumored to sign with the San Francisco Giants is signing a one-year deal with the Atlanta Braves. Aside from the Giants, the Orioles also showed interest in the controversial Puig.  Atlanta is much closer to Miami, where Puig makes his home, a 1 hour 30 minutes flight instead of Baltimore, or a coastal flight from San Francisco. So, I am sure he is elated to play that close to home, with a contending team loaded with Latino players..

In this short 60-game season that is a week away, Puig can rotate with one of the very best young outfields in the game, the sensational 22-year old super star Ronald Acuña Jr., Ender Enciarte and Marcell Ozuna, all three Latino players to the delight of Puig who speaks English but prefers Spanish.

Puig could easily find himself in another World Series; the Atlanta Braves are that talented of a team. He would probably be their DH when they play teams in the American League, since this season National League teams will be allowed to have a designated hitter. Puig could prove to be a very good acquisition for Los Bravos, or it could also be a disaster, because with him a team is basically ‘rolling the dice’. It is as simple as that.

The great Manuel (Manny) Mota worked with a young Puig when he arrived to the US, and played for his first team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Mota for years always told me when I asked him if he wanted to manage, he always told me, he did not, because he believed he wanted to teach young players and he has done that very well for many years, especially with young Latino players.

Yasiel Puig had a very dangerous escape from Cuba, he is very talented, I would say he was given some God-given talents that you really cannot teach, but he is also a liability, and there are certain players that do not listen to good advice, they just do what they want to do. I am not one that subscribe to giving players nicknames, but one of the best ever given was from the great former Dodger announcer Vin Scully, when he called Yasiel Puig “The Wild Horse”.

Puig is a very colorful man, he has a big heart and is very popular with the Hispanic community. He used to visit Porto’s, a great Cuban chain of restaurants in the Los Angeles Area and was famous for treating lots of people at that wonderful and very popular eatery. He seems to enjoy playing baseball as much as anybody I have ever seen, granted his “style” is not approved by a lot of people. Yasiel Puig is a fun guy to see play and now he will be wearing the Bravos de Atlanta uniform, his fourth team, so far, since he arrived from Cuba.

Note: KIQI 1010AM/KATD 990AM(10,000 Watts) San Francisco, covering the Bay Area and Sacramento continues as the Spanish radio home for the Athletics as they will carry 26 LIVE home games, all Friday, Saturday and Sunday games as well as all night games from the Oakland Coliseum

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

No Posey: SF Giants turn to Plan B for 2020 success

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–The most obvious path to  success for the 2020 San Francisco Giants disappeared when Buster Posey opted out of the season, citing his family and the adoption of prematurely-born twin girls.

With just 60 games in a 100-yard dash of a season, the Giants figured to rely on a veteran, starting pitching staff to establish a pattern of low-scoring games winnable with an offense adept in scratching across a run or two as opposed to slugging its way past NL and AL West opponents. Without Posey–in his familiar role as the orchestrator of the pitching staff–the Giants may need to revisit just how capable their offense is.

Any evaluation of the Giants offensively should begin with right fielder Alex Dickerson, the 2019 mid-season acquisition from San Diego who turned heads with 22 extra-base hits in playing time limited by injuries. Dickerson has the swing and the frame of a 30 home run guy at big league level, but a balky back and other physical issues have kept the 30-year old from blossoming. His home run off Shaun Anderson highlighted Tuesday’s intersquad game and provided hope that Dickerson can be the starting left fielder on Opening Day and stay put.

Michael Yastrzemski, the Giants’ other under the radar acquisition from last season, returns with a firm grip on the centerfield job, the leadoff spot and an opportunity to improve on his 101 hits and 21 homers in 2019. The Giants love his work ethic and approach, all reasons to bet on the Hall of Famer’s grandson to trend upward in 2020.

Hunter Pence returns to San Francisco after a year in Texas in which he re-energized a career that appeared to be over. Pence is healthier than he was in his last season as a Giant in 2018, and he’s successfully tweaked his batting approach and daily habits, giving him a shot to recapture the starting job in right field.

Evan Longoria, starting his 13th big league season, is no longer a stranger to San Francisco, the cooler weather and the National League, and is in fact, the team’s closest thing to a senior leader in Posey’s absence. Most importantly, Longo’s not satisfied, believing that his stats should return to previous standards now that he’s completely acclimated. In seven previous seasons, the third baseman hit more home runs than the 20 he had in 2019.

Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford return at first base and shortstop respectively, and both are out to prove they’re more than the last links to the team’s world championship past. Crawford slipped some defensively last season, and Belt stayed healthy–tying his career high with appearances in 156 games–but saw his batting average and offensive impact slip dramatically. Both Brandons are eager to shore up their defenciencies but Belt’s availability for the opener in Los Angeles is up in the air due to a foot injury.

Maurice Dubon was a breath of fresh air in the clubhouse and on the field following his 2019 acquisition from Milwaukee, but 28 games were hardly enough to show his full capabilities. Can he continue his growth in 2020? Manager Gabe Kaplan is betting yes by handing the second base job to the 25-year old originally from Honduras who played as a prep in Sacramento.

Posey’s catcher spot remains up in the air with Tyler Heineman, Rob Brantly and Chadwick Tromp all in camp and getting reps while free agent veteran Russell Martin keeps getting mentioned as a potential acquisition. Currently, Tromp’s getting a lot of attention with his power bat and dramatic rise after seven seasons at the minor league level.

The universal DH is baseball’s COVID-19, shortened season surprise adjustment that has all 15 National League teams scrambling to staff on the fly. The Giants are even further behind here given their lack of power options, but they’ve already decided to pass on Yasiel Puig who just signed with the Braves. Instead the Giants will cobble together a left-right platoon with Pablo Sandoval, Pence, non-roster invitee Darrin Ruf, Steven Duggar and Tromp all in the mix.

Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason: Fed Ex, Nike sponsorship would be dropped if Washington didn’t change the name and mascot; Where St Mary’s College is with opening up athletics; plus more

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Racist logo and name of the Washington Redskins will be dropped after Nike, Fed Ex, Amazon and other sponsors said they would drop out as team sponsors if Washington didn’t remove the Redskins name. The new name of the team has not been announced yet. (NBC Sports file photo)

On Headlines podcast with Barbara:

#1 Barbara, the Washington Redskins name is no more, Washington owner Dan Snyder has agreed to change the name after much pressure. He at one time said he would never change the name of the team but after the demonstrations regarding the murder of George Floyd and racial injustices and the possibility of losing Nike and Fed Ex as sponsors that all changed for Snyder.

#2 Snyder is not doing this because it’s the right thing to do but economically he has no choice but to make that choice and if didn’t change the name after all of that he would suffer economically when his sponsors start to pull out. Is it pretty obvious where Snyder’s heart is in all of this?

#3 How concerned should an athletic collegiate program like St Mary’s be regarding the future of their sports program. The obvious thing with the virus has everyone concerned and most likely they could have an athletic program much like what is happening in the Pac 12 being forced to close it down due to heavy spiking of Covid-19?

#4 Barbara, It’s not going well in MLB not only with the departure of Buster Posey catcher of the San Francisco Giants leaving to take care of his twins, but Chicago White Sox pitcher Michael Kopech has opted out who reportedly was having issues with anxiety and depression.

#5  The Houston Astros pitching staff including pitching coach Brent Strom did not workout with the team over the weekend due to an Astro employee who contracted Covid-19 from someone outside of the organization. At this rate will it be a miracle if MLB could even complete a whole month of baseball?

Join Barbara for Sports Headlines each Tuesday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headlines Sports podcast with Morris Phillips: Pac 12 scheduling conference games only; SEC Commissioner says season highly likely in jeopardy

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Stanford Cardinal Athletic Director Bernard Muir shared his concerns as the Stanford Athletic Department has already cut 11 programs and are looking at more than a $12 million deficit for the Stanford Athletics 2021 season (photo from sfgate.com)

On Headline Podcast with Morris:

#1 The Pac 12 took the Big 10’s lead and have scheduled only conference games only.  The decision is not only for the football program but it extends to other college sports as well.

#2 Cal reported that 47 new cases of Cornoavirus has spread these cases were confirmed just last week  when the Cal Greek Club met and reported that they were infected. Which confirms that classes won’t be held on campus this fall.

#3 At the beginning of the crisis back in March there were 23 reported cases of Covid-19 on  the Cal campus but since the re-opening at the end of last May these 47 new cases and the spiking of the epidemic have the Cal campus scrambling not to have classes at the campus.

#4 Last week Stanford canceled 11 athletic programs and as SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey stated he highly doubts their will be a football season in the SEC and that extends to the Pac 12.

#5 Not only is Stanford cutting sports programs they reported that their starting to have budget problems. Stanford Athletic Director Bernard Muir shared his concerns stating that even before the pandemic Stanford was looking at a $12 million projected deficit for 2021.

Morris Phillips does Headline Sports each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Headlines Sports podcast with Daniel Dullum: SEC Commissioner expecting the worse; Giants Posey will spend time with his twins; plus more

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SEC Commissioner Greg Sanky has his doubts about the upcoming season if it’ll be safe or not, Big 10 and Pac 12 are considering just playing conference games only (NBC Sports file photo)

Headline Sports with Daniel Dullum:

1 Big-10, Pac-12 opting for league-only football schedules; SEC commissioner ‘pessimistic’ about upcoming season

2 Buster Posey the latest MLB player to opt out of playing in 2020

3 MLB reports 66 positive Covid-19 tests, which is less than 2 percent, in latest round of testing

4 NHL and players association reach deal to resume season on August 1; Toronto and Edmonton tabbed as hub cities

5 Report: Paramedic struck by a foul ball in the ALCS sues the Astros for $1 million

6 From the NFL: Eagles DeSean Jackson opens mouth, inserts foot; Randall Cunningham joining the Las Vegas Raiders as team chaplain

Join Daniel each Sunday for Headlines podcasting at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Mary Lisa Walsh: NHL and Players close to a new six year deal; Only pandemic stands in the way

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NHL Players Association statement announcing that they and the NHL have reached an agreement for four years with a two year option (NHL Players Association and Return to Play Committee image)

On Headlines pod with Mary Lisa:

#1 The NHL Players Association has voted to start the regular season through the Return to Play Committee reaching to extend talks for the CBA. Negotiations for the most part went without a hitch as the players and NHL could come to peaceful agreement at some point.

#2 The players and NHL are working on a four year agreement with a two year option. The only issue that both sides were concerned about was if the virus would infect the game and players could still consider to opt out.

#3 The Stanley Cup Playoffs are scheduled to start on Aug 1st at the two bubbles Rogers Place in Edmonton will hold Western Conference playoffs and Scotiabank in Toronto will host the Eastern Conference games.

#4 Mary, the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Roman Polak and Vancouver forward Sven Baertschi have opted out from playing in the post season. The Canucks said that Baertschi opted out and Canucks GM Jim Benning said he knew it was a difficult choice but he understands.

#5 Mary, talk about the economic impact of losing hockey does to a city, we know working in downtown San Jose covering the Sharks that many taverns, retail, restaurants and food places that serve hockey fans are really feeling the hit with no hockey right now.

Mary Lisa is a San Jose Sharks beat writer and does Headline Sports every other Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

Headline Sports podcast with Michael Duca: Giants Posey drops out; Nashville FC second MLS team to drop out; plus more

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San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey has stated before “what are we doing” regarding playing and working out while the virus is spreading like a wild fire throughout the country and with a pregnant wife is considering dropping out for the season (NBC Sports photo)

On Headline Sports with Michael:

#1 San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey had missed three days of workouts and announced he is dropping out as of Friday as the risks of contracting the virus has been off the charts as Posey and his wife adopted twins who born pre mature and Posey will stay at home to care for the twins. With Posey dropping out will this be an example for other players that it’s not safe?

#2 Nashville FC had ten players test positive and like FC Dallas they have elected to drop out could teams in MLB start doing the same things by dropping out.

#3 Things have been reportedly falling apart for testing in MLB with delays with their Utah lab but tests this week have come back and MLB teams continue to work out but managers and players are very nervous on how to proceed on a day to day basis on trying to keep it safe.

#4 Oakland A’s manager Bob Melvin said after A’s left hand pitcher Jesus Luzardo tested positive for Corona Luzardo would not be on the field and that he couldn’t comment any further on Luzardo and anyone else.

#5 Michael with the minor leagues shut down and some of the teams we talked about in MLS testing positive and the NFL mulling over how to play or not will baseball eventually have to cancel the season?

Michael Duca does Headline Sports podcasts every other Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Matt Harrington: Bruins enter post season coming off 100 point season; Rangers Lundqvist glad to be back in NHL camp; plus more

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nhl.com file photo: The Boston Bruins had a 100 point lead tops in the NHL before the regular season was suspended due to the pandemic

On Headline Sports podcast with Matt Harrington:

#1 The Boston Bruins had an 100 point lead and should be have been the number team for the Stanley Cup Playoffs but with the playoff format despite the 100 points it looks more like a level playing surface going into these playoffs.

#2 Talk about David Pastrnak who became the first player since Phil Esposito to lead the NHL tied with the Washington Capitals Alex Ovechkin at 48 goals. Goalie Tuukka Rask had a 2.12 goals against average the Bruins finished ninth in the NHL with a 3.24 goals against average.

#3 How big is it for 38 year old New York Rangers goalie Hendrik Lundqvist to return back to camp after working out in Sweden

#4 The Rangers 37-25-5 during the regular season will be in the qualifiers and are the No.11 seed in the post season they’ll face off against No.6 Carolina Hurricanes 38-25-5 in the best of five series.

#5 The San Jose Sharks have $648,000 in cap space and with a frozen salary cap according to CBA guidelines with contracts expiring for Joe Thornton, Melker Karlsson, and Aaron Dell. Considering a $50,000 bump up it will put the cap at $750,000 for the next four years how difficult will it be to bring them back?

Matt Harrington does Headline podcasts each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

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