The Oakland A’s and Matt Chapman will be at Oracle Park in San Francisco for a three game series starting this Friday night. Chapman is shown here from last year’s Home Run Derby at last year’s All-Star game in Minnesota (AP file photo)

Bay Series 2020: A’s and Giants renew their Rivalry

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Our Bay Area teams have been hot and not so hot. The Oakland Athletics to one of their best starts in history occupy first place with a 13-6 record already four games over second place Texas Rangers, with just 41 games left in this 2020 season. The San Francisco Giants with a not so good 8-12 in last place five games out of first, with 40 games left. A red hot Colorado Rockies team with 12-6 has taken first place.

The Bay Area Series is always a treat for Northern California fans, although this year with zero fans in the stands. Giants always have received press coverage preference since they moved from New York to San Francisco in 1958, while the A’s who arrived in Oakland ten years later in 1968 had their share of success, with four (4)World Series going to the City of Oakland.

The most memorable was the 1989 (last World Series title) when they swept the Giants in the middle of a 6.9 magnitude earthquake. Every-time they meet I remember that memorable 1989, as memorable as this incredible 2020.

These two teams in 2020 are totally different. The A’s brain trust had said a few seasons ago that the year 2020 was their goal for this group of young players to jell as a unit and go far. Chapman, Olson, Semien, Laureano, Piscotty, Canha and a young and talented pitching staff headed by Sean Manaea, Frankie Montas and Jesús Luzardo, with veteran Mike Fiers and a supporting cast of Daniel Mengden and Chris Bassitt.

But it has been the A’s bullpen that has been ‘lights out’. Joaquim Soria, Jake Diekman, T.J McFarland, has worked the most with the reliable veteran Yusmeiro Petit plus closer Liam Hendricks now with a 1-0 1.93 ERA and five saves in nine games. He is not the “opener” anymore, but one of the most reliable closers in the game.

The A’s can play power ball with the best teams in baseball. Their defense has been solid and their starting pitching, minor their #1 lefty Sean Manaea, who has not won in four previous starts, he is 0-2 with an ugly 9.00 ERA in just 15 innings pitched. There was a lot of optimism for Manaea in 2020 after coming back from shoulder surgery faster than the A’S expected. However, flamethrower Frankie Montás has taken over the #1 position in the rotation since Opening Day.

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The San Francisco Giants in 2020 are in a rebuilding season. A cast of young inexperienced players, surrounded with veterans like Brandon Belt, and Brandon Crawford, and their top starter Johnny Cueto.

The face of this franchise, catcher Buster Posey, opted out during this Corona-virus season, after he and his wife adopted twins and decided to stay at home. Nevertheless, there are some interesting players like journeyman Donovan Solano who has played with the Marlins and Yankees and since 2019 with the Giants.

Solano is hitting .458 with 15 RBI. Would he be one that hit .400 in this shortened season? Also Mauricio Dubón is a good young player. Pablo Sandoval still hanging around and Hunter Pence returned to the team he enjoyed the most success.

The fences were moved in at Oracle Park, as the Giants who have been power-depraved might be able to connect for more home runs. Gabe Kapler (Manager) was sort of a controversial signing for the Giants, after the reign of future Hall of Fame manager Bruce Botchy who retired and left some big shoes to be filled.

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The Giants will host the Athletics on a three (3) game series at Oracle Park

Friday 6:45PM Giants Johnny Cueto 1-0 5.40 vs. A’S Frankie Montas 2-1 1.57

Saturday at 4:07 and Sunday at 1:05

The Bay Series will continue in September across the bay in Oakland, for the last three games.

September 18, 19 and 20.

May your favorite team win.

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October Bubble? MLB is seriously considering playing the Postseason in neutral warm-weather cities with two major league parks, the favorites are the Chicago and Los Angeles areas. A total of 16 teams will advance to the postseason, eight in each league. In case our two bay area teams are among those sixteen, they will probably play in the LA area. It actually doesn’t matter, since stadiums are going to be empty anyway during all the games anyplace in the country.

Stay well and stay tuned.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish Radio Talent for the Oakland A’s. Catch the A’s-Giants series at Oracle Park in San Francisco on NBC Sports Bay Area. Amaury does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com