Month: January 2021

Sacramento Kings podcast with Tony Renteria: Kings coming off win against Knicks face Magic in Orlando tonight

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The Sacramento Kings Glen Robinson III (left) fouls the New York Knicks Julius Randall (right) in the first quarter of Fri Jan 22, 2021’s game at Golden One Center in Sacramento (AP News photo)

On the Kings podcast with Tony R:

#1 Tony, the Kings (6-10) got a big win in their last game against the New York Knicks 103-94 after losing four straight games. How much of a morale booster is that for them starting out on the road trip tonight?

#2 The Knicks are not a slouch team by any means. They came into Sacramento last Friday with a four-game win streak, but the Kings wanted it more.

#3 The Kings Friday got offensive help from De’Aaron Fox, who led with 22 points and Harrison Barnes with 21.

#4 There’s been criticism regarding Kings head coach Luke Walton being one of the worse coaches in the NBA and that Walton has simply been out-coached this year. Is Walton’s job on shaky ground?

#5 The Kings had their game against the Memphis Grizzlies (7-6) postponed last Saturday due to the Grizzlies have COVID-19 protocol issues. The Kings are in Orlando tonight against the Magic. The Magic has lost eight of their last ten games and won in their last game defeating the Charlotte Hornets 117-108. How do you see the two teams tonight?

Join Tony for the Kings podcasts every other Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento Kings podcast with Tony Renteria Wed Jan 27, 2021 by Sports Radio Service | Free Listening on SoundCloud

Avalanche Bury Sharks in 7-3 Win

Published on by M WalshLeave a comment

The Colorado Avalanche’s center Nathan MacKinnon (29) gets past the San Jose Sharks Mario Ferraro (38) to put the puck on net and Sharks goaltender Martin Jones (1) in the first period of Tue Jan 26, 2021 game at the Ball Center in Denver (AP News photo)

By Mary Walsh

The San Jose Sharks fell 7-3 to the high-powered Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday. The Avalanche goals were scored by Valeri Nichushkin, Brandon Saad (2), Joonas Donskoi, Mikko Rantanen, Devon Toews and Samuel Girard. Their goaltender, Philipp Grubauer, made 27 saves for the win. Sharks goals came from Noah Gregor, Ryan Donato and Logan Couture. Martin Jones made 14 saves on 19 shots before being replaced by Devan Dubnyk, who made 21 saves for San Jose.

Sharks Head Coach Bob Boughner described the moment he thought the game really started to unravel for his team:

“The most disappointing thing for me was, you know, okay it’s three-one after the first period, we had a good eight, nine minutes and we’re still in the hockey game and then we start on the power play. We turn one over, they go down and get a breakaway. Our next unit comes on, turns one over, it’s in the back of our net, it’s four one. Obviously, that’s when the game opens up a bit and we paid the price for it. You can’t open up against these guys and you can’t mis-manage pucks and that’s exactly what we did.”

Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson said:

“They played a good game today and we did not. I think we started okay but we still defended a lot, even though we got the first goal. I don’t think that was anything we really created. We got a good puck bounce. I think that once they started rolling, we became a little passive and we gave them a little too much room and, you know, we started doubting ourselves a bit. And that’s probably why the game ran away from us against a good team like this.”

The Sharks scored first, a double-tap from Ryan Donato at 10:39. He brought the puck up from the goal line and tried to shoot it through two defenders but it hit a couple of legs. He found it as it bounced and nudged it in for his third of the season. Assists went to Kevin Labanc and Logan Couture.

Colorado tied it up at 16:15. Valeri Nichushkin carried the puck down around behind the net and then sent it back to the blue line for a shot by Erik Johnson. Joonas Donskoi skated across in front of Martin Jones just as the shot came in and the puck hit him on the way in. Assists went to Johnson and Nichushkin.

The Avalanche took the lead less that a minute later. Cale Makar put the puck into traffic in front of Martin Jones and Brandon Saad knocked it in. Assists went to Makar and Andre Burakovsky.

Piling it on, Colorado scored a power play goal in the final minute of play. Nikolai Knyzhov was in the box for hooking against Tyson Jost. The Sharks penalty kill held off the Colorado power play for almost a minute before Mikko Rantanen scored with a hard shot from above the face-off circle. Assists went to Nathan MacKinnon and Makar.

At the end of the first, Colorado led in shots 16-9 and the Sharks had a slight lead in face-off wins of 52%.

The Avalanche kept rolling. The Sharks had an early power play in the second period, but half way through it, Valeri Nichushkin snatched the puck in the neutral zone and took it the other way for a short-handed goal.

Samuel Girard scored a few minutes later with a shot through what looked like all available skaters on the ice. Assists went to Tyson Jost and Kiefer Sherwood.

Devan Dubnyk came in to relieve Martin Jones in the Sharks net. After the game, Bob Boughner said: “I think both goalies were left out to dry multiple times tonight. It’s tough to make a goalie evaluation, I think that, you know, some of the plays that they made through the seam, and we actually made some saves on it, they scored on I think it was the second or third one. But you can’t allow seam plays.”

The Sharks’ third line showed some jump and scored one at 7:44. Some quick passes got the puck to the net just as Noah Gregor got there to tuck it in with a backhand. Assists went to Dylan Gambrell and Timo Meier.

Near the 13:00 mark, Devan Dubnyk got tangled up with J.T. Compher. He took some time to recover but did not leave the game.

The Avalanche resumed scoring at 13:30 when Devon Toews scored Colorado’s sixth of the night. Towes took a shot from the blue line that did not go in. Toews took another shot, this time into an empty net while Dubnyk was tangled up with another Colorado forward. Assists went to Gabriel Landeskog and Cale Makar.

Brandon Saad scored his second of the night at 15:01. Johnson, Kadri and Saad entered the zone and got around everyone but Vlasic and in a brief two-on-one, scored the team’s seventh.

The Sharks were outshot in the second 13-6.

Logan Couture got one back for San Jose at 12:43 of the third period. Kevin Labanc made a cross-ice pass to Donato as they entered the zone with Couture between them. Donato moved it back to the middle as they closed on the net and Couture tipped it in. Assists went to Donato and Labanc.

The only stat that favored the Sharks Tuesday was their face-off win percentage, finishing with 53%.

The Sharks next play on Thursday at 6:00 PM PT, against the Avalanche in Colorado again.

No players selected to be in Baseball’s Hall of Fame this year

Published on by rxsluggerLeave a comment

Former Boston Red Sox Curt Schilling who failed election in to the MLB Hall of Fame on Tue Jan 26, 2021 namely because of his controversial political views requested to be taken off next year’s ballot and will try and get in in front of the Veteran Committee in 2022 (MassLive.com file photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The eligible members of the BBWAA (baseball writers association of America) did not select any player to the Hall of Fame this year. It was the first time since 1960 that they did not select a player. A player needs 75% of the vote to make it to the Hall. Players have ten years of eligibility. They can gain entrance later if selected by a committee of former players.

There were three players on the ballot that had the best chance of getting selected. They are pitchers Curt Schilling and Roger Clemens. The other player is Barry Bonds. All three are in the ninth year of eligibility.

Schilling received 71% of the vote. He has asked the people at the Hall of Fame to remove him from the ballot next year. He claims that he is willing to take his chances with the players’ committee. The Hall is considering his request. Many people think that Schilling didn’t get the 75% required for entrance due to his political views.

Schilling holds extreme right-wing positions. Many people were shocked that he allegedly made remarks supporting the people who attacked and vandalized the Capitol on January 6th, 2021.

The Hall of Fame vote took place before the attack but might affect the vote later this year. The Hall of Fame is a museum. Many people in the Hall have character less than sterling. The Hall voters have to vote on the players’ performance. Is Schilling worthy enough to be in the Hall? He won 219 games in his career.

Schilling is a three-time World Champion. He won one with the Arizona Diamondbacks and two with the Boston Red Sox. His courage and fortitude on the mound can not be questioned. His performance in game six of the 2004 AL Championship series is legendary. He beat the Yankees to send the series to game seven. The Red Sox won that game and then beat the St Louis Cardinal to win the World Series for the first time in 86 years.

Roger Clemens won over 350 games with the Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, and Houston Astros. He won seven Cy Young Awards as the best pitcher in the American League. His numbers should mean induction into the Hall.

The fly in the ointment is the claim that he, allegedly, used performance enhancing drugs. Clemens never failed a drug test. He received about 61 % of the vote last year and about the same this year. His chances of getting in next year are slim. He will have to wait until later.

Barry Bonds was one of the best hitters ever to put on a uniform to play baseball. Bonds won the National League’s Most Valuable Player Award seven times. No other player in Major League history has won it more than three times.

Bonds holds the single-season record for most home runs with 73. He broke Henry Aaron’s record of 755 homers in a career in 2007. He finished his career with 762. Bonds, like Clemens, never failed a drug test. He, too, had to deal with accusations that he used performance-enhancing drugs.

There may be people in the Hall that used steroids to help them hit or pitch. Many voters are not willing to vote for players that “cheated.” Some voters are willing to say that Clemens and Bonds using steroids during those years was not illegal.

Attendance at baseball games dropped after the player’s strike in 1994. The teams’ owners looked the other way when Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa sent balls flying out of the parks in 1998. McGwire finished with 70, and Sosa had 66. Clemens and Bonds will have to wait. They have the numbers for entrance. Many people believe they should be included. Only time will tell.

Jerry Feitelberg is an Oakland A’s beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Marcus Semien says adios to the A’s; Signs one yr $18M deal with Jays

Published on by rxsluggerLeave a comment

Oakland A’s shortstop Marcus Semien signed a one year deal worth $18 million with the Toronto Blue Jays leaving the A’s after six years on Tue Jan 26, 2021. Ironically Semien will not play in the city of Toronto proper as all Blue Jays home games will be played in Florida (USA Today file photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND–The Oakland A’s brain trust now has the unenviable task of replacing star shortstop Marcus Semien. Semien, who had been with the A’s for six years, signed a one-year deal worth $18 million with the Toronto Blue Jays Tuesday.

Semien was the third player the A’s have lost to free agency this season. The A’s lost one of the best closers in all of baseball, Liam Hendriks, to the Chicago White Sox. Robby Grossman, who was in left field, headed to Detroit.

Semien’s departure continues a pattern that has haunted the A’s for many, many years. Because of financial considerations, the A’s cannot afford to pay players that have become stars. A’s president, Billy Beane, and General Manager David Forst have become adept at finding value in players discarded by other teams or finding and developing prospects from their farm system.

The A’s traded for Semien after the 2014 season. They sent pitcher Jeff Samardzija to the White Sox for Semien. Semien was a second baseman there. The A’s wanted him to move to shortstop. His first season at that position did not go well.

He made both fielding and throwing errors. The following season the A’s hired Ron Washington as a consultant to work with him. Washington had been a coach with the A’s and was credited with helping Eric Chavez win six Gold Gloves.

Washington and Semien worked for hours pre-game on his fielding and throwing. Fans could see Semien improve daily. Semien had other skills that helped the A’s win. He could hit and hit with power.

Semien was fleet of foot. The A’s missed the playoffs in 2016 and 2017. They made them in 2018, 2019, and 2020. The A’s were hoping to make it to the World Series this year. Their last appearance in the Fall Classic was in 1990.

Since then, the A’s failed to advance out of the first round with two exceptions. They advanced to the AL Championship round in 2006. The Detroit Tigers sent them home. They made it past the Wildcard round beating the Chicago White Sox. The Houston Astros beat them to advance to the AL Championship round in 2020.

Semien’s best year with the A’s was in 2019. He hit .285 with 33 homers and 93 RBIs. He finished third in the voting for Most Valuable Player.

A’s fans will be sorry to see him leave. They will wish Semien well in Toronto. Hopefully, the A’s will find capable replacements. The fans are hungry for a Championship team. It’s been a long drought.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: 2021 Season It’s Déjá vu all Over Again

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Hohokam Stadium in Mesa AZ may sit empty if the request to the Cactus League and Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred to delay spring training is enforced due to Coronavirus explosion in Arizona (azcentral.com file photo)

2021 Season It’s Déjá vu all Over Again

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The MLB owners and the Major League Players Association get along just as well as the Democrats and Republicans in Washington and the mistrust is just as bad. It seems if the powers-to-be on both sides in baseball ever agree to (for example) go out to lunch together, then they will argue the time of lunch and probably argue and argue.

But there are outside baseball events (like in 2020) where neither the owners nor the players can control such as covid-19. A recent letter from a Phoenix television station from the Cactus League to Commissioner Rob Manfred (was leaked) and was asking him to delay Spring Training because of the Covid crisis in Arizona. Right away, within hours somebody familiar with the Player’s Union position suggested that MLB pushed the Cactus League to leak the letter.

Arizona cities who have Spring Training camps (15 of the 30 teams train in the Phoenix area) are requesting that MLB delays Spring Training. While owners want the Players Union to delay the start of the season by one month and now received support from Cactus League officials. The Union wants Spring Training to open on time as scheduled on February 17.

Interestingly enough, the other 15 Major League teams who trained in the State of Florida, seem to have little problem, probably because Florida is doing much better with the Covid crisis than Arizona. And as of today looks like Florida will open their Spring Training camps mid-February as scheduled. However Cactus League cities in Arizona want a delay of one month before the teams report to their respective Spring Training camps.

Stay well and stay tuned.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez for News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Golden State Warriors podcast with David Zizmor: Warriors could take two game series Wednesday against Minnesota

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The Golden State Warriors Andrew Wiggins (left) takes the ball in front of the Minnesota Timberwolves Jarrett Culver (right) during Mon Jan 25, 2021’s game at Chase Center in San Francisco in game 1 of the 2 game series (AP News photo)

On the Warriors podcast with David:

#1 Dave, the Warriors had absolute control of the Minnesota Timberwolves and got top scoring from Andrew Wiggins with 23 points and Stephen Curry with 36.

#2 Talk about Kevon Looney taking James Wiseman’s place at center do you see this being a permanent line up change or until Wiseman learns the ropes a little more?

#3 The Timberwolves have lost six of their last seven games and are struggling and the Warriors have had some strong wins talk about how you see this match up Wednesday night for game two?

David Zizmor does the Warriors podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Jose Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa Walsh: San Jose faces Aves for two in Colorado starts tonite

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Gabriel Landeskog (92) scores for the Colorado Avalanche in overtime against Anaheim for the game winner over the Ducks. The Avalanche will host the San Jose Sharks tonight at Ball Arena in Denver (AP News photo0

On the Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa Walsh:

#1 The San Jose Sharks defenceman Brent Burns got a key goal in the third period that broke a 3-3 tie against the Minnesota Wild on Sunday. The Sharks Matt Nieto also added an empty netter to an eventual 5-3 win in Minnesota.

#2 The Sharks also got scoring contribution during the back and forth game from Ryan Danato, Evander Kane, and Noah Gregor. It was an all team effort to get the win on Sunday.

#3 The Wild’s Kevin Fiala tied the game up in the third period four seconds into a power play at 7:20. The Wild who were down 3-1 saw Zach Parise and Nick Bjugstad add a goal each as the Wild came back to tie the game.

#4 Brent Burns made some NHL history scoring his 40th game winning goal making him the eighth defenceman in NHL history to do it.

#5 Coming up the Sharks play tonight in Colorado against the Avalanche and again on Thursday night both games are 6pm face offs.

Join Mary Lisa for the Sharks podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Chiefs Mahomes, Bucs Brady, prepare for Super Bowl LV

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Pat Mahomes (left), then New England Patriot and current Tampa Bay Bay Buccaneer quarterback Tom Brady (right) meet on the field post game, will meet again in Super Bowl LV in Tampa Bay Sun Feb 7, 2021 (Arrowhead Pride file photo)

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

#1 Super Bowl LV is upon us and usually the Super Bowl is one of the biggest events talked, watched and covered in sports. Not so this year with Covid-19 protocols the NFL and the City of Tampa Bay is allowing only only up to 22,000 fans to enter to watch the game live.

#2 For Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady this is going to be his tenth Super Bowl of his career. Brady has won six Super Bowls and has the home field as the game is being played against the Kansas City Chiefs on Feb 7th.

#3 Amaury talk about Chiefs quarterback Pat Mahomes, he had suffered a concussion two weeks ago when he was tackled by the Cleveland Browns Mack Wilson. The tackle didn’t look like a fragrant foul that Wilson was intentionally trying to hurt Mahomes.

#4 Mahomes came out of that concussion as everyone saw on Sunday and played a solid game throwing over 300 yards under center and the Chiefs got a convincing win over the Buffalo Bills to advance to the Super Bowl

#5 Baseball Hall of Fame: It looks like that Curt Schilling, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, won’t have enough votes to make the Hall this year. If they don’t make the balloting this year next year (2022) will be their last shot at the Hall.

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

 

 

Warriors down Timberwolves 130-108; Curry leads W’s offense with 36 points

Published on by rxsluggerLeave a comment

Stephen Curry (30) of the Golden State Warriors led all scorers with 36 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Mon Jan 25, 2021 at Chase Center in San Francisco (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

 The Golden State Warriors bounced back after two straight losses to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 130-108. The Wolves did not have point guard D’Angelo Russell in the lineup Monday night.

Russell is recovering from a quadricep injury. He may be available Wednesday night when the two teams play again. The T-Wolves star center Karl-Anthony Towns was not available as he is under the NBA’s Covid-19 protocol. 

Having the most challenging schedule in the NBA for the first 16 games, the Warriors knew they had a chance to get back on the winning track Monday night. Head coach Steve Kerr wanted the team to get off to a good start against Minnesota.

They fell behind in the first quarter against the Knicks and the Jazz in the last two games, and it cost them as they lost both. Kerr tweaked the starting lineup by inserting Kevon Looney at the center slot instead of rookie James Wiseman.

The move paid off as the Warriors raced out to an early 19-4 advantage. The T-Wolves’ offense came to life, but they could not catch the Warriors. Golden State finished the first quarter 34-23.

Minnesota started the quarter with an 8-0 run. Behind Brad Wanamaker, Eric Paschall, and Kent Bazemore, the Warriors increased the lead to 46-33. The second unit played well, and the Warriors cruised to a 68-55 lead.

Although the Warriors led wire-to-wire, the T-Wolves made a run in the third quarter to cut the deficit to ten. They won the quarter 29-25 to make the game a little more interesting. The Warriors were able to maintain the lead, but Minnesota did not quit.

They kept playing hard. They ran the court, played defense to force turnovers, and the Warriors knew that Minnesota would be back in the game with one or two miscues. The Warriors, leading 93-83 at the start of the fourth quarter, saw Minnesota cut the lead to eight 103-95 with 6:45 to play.

 Curry re-entered the game at this point. Curry showed the T-Wolves and the NBA the reasons he was a two-time NBA MVP. Curry scored the Warriors’ next 12 points to put them ahead 115-101.

After a Brad Wanamaker’s bucket, Curry connected on another three to give Golden State a commanding lead 121-103. Curry scored 15 points in three minutes and 20 seconds of play. He was four for five and made three threes. The game was over as the Warriors cruised to a 130-108 win.

Game Notes and Stats: With the win, the Warriors are 9-8 for the season. The T-Wolves are 4-12. 

The Warriors had five players in double figures Monday night. Curry led the team with 36 points, four rebounds, three assists. Curry made seven threes. Andrew Wiggins continued to play well at both ends of the court.

Wiggins, facing his former team since the trade last year, knocked down 23 points. He connected on two threes. Kelly Oubre, Jr. had 14, Draymond Green 10, and James Wiseman 13.

Minnesota’s offensive leader was Malik Beasley, with 30. Jarred Vanderbilt had 12, Naz Reid 11 points and ten rebounds, and Jordan McLaughlin 15. The T-Wolves star rookie, the number one pick in this year’s NBA draft, Anthony Edwards, tallied 15.

The same two teams meet Wednesday night again at the Chase Center. The game will start at 7 pm.

Cal Bears podcast with Morris Phillips: Cal can’t contain USC’s Mobley in second half loss

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The USC Trojans Evan Mobley (4) seen here throwing down against the Washington Huskies on Thu Jan 14, 2021 finished with 25 points against the Cal Bears being the key offensive person to help the Trojans in the victory on Sat Jan 23, 2021 at Cal (AP News photo)

Cal Bears podcast with Morris Phillips:

#1 The USC Trojans (12-3) Evan Mobley had himself quite a second half against the Cal Bears (7-10) on Saturday night at Haas Pavilion scoring 17 of his 25 points in the second half effective to help defeat the Bears 76-68.

#2 Cal saw those walls closing in in that second half and even with Matt Bradley back in the line up that still didn’t help get the Bears enough offense to win.

#3 Morris I just wanted to ask you about Ryan Betley whose been in a slump of late, he scored seven points and got two assists in Saturday’s game against USC.

#4 The Cal Bears Makale Foreman had a rough game against USC no assists and five points. Foreman had some good games earlier has trailed off some?

#5 The Bears hit the road their next game is on Thu Jan 28 which will be at Arizona State (4-7). ASU has struggled losing six out of their last seven games. The Bears are coming off a win at Utah(6-6), a close loss to UCLA (12-3) and the disappointing loss to USC Morris how do you see Cal and ASU matching up on Thursday?

Join Morris for the Cal Bears podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com