Month: March 2022

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: SJ looking to make amends vs. Bakersfield tonight at Sharks Ice

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Read em and weep the San Jose Barracuda’s final numbers against the Bakersfield Condors last Wed Feb 23, 2022 at SAP Center in San Jose. The Barracuda host the Condors for the second straight Wednesday on Mar 2, 2022 at Sharks Ice in San Jose (image from San Jose Barracuda)

On the San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko:

#1 Tough going for the San Jose Barracuda (15-28-1-0) who allowed three goals in the first ten minutes against the high flying Bakersfield Condors (21-12-4-4) resulting later in a 6-3 loss at the SAP Center in San Jose last Wednesday.

#2 Jayden Halbgewachs scored his 13 and 14th goals this season and reached 30 points there are those games where Halbgewachs has a good offensive night.

#3 Last Wednesday Lane Pederson picked up two assists since being assigned to the Barracuda last Tuesday last week.

#4 Nick Merkley did it again scoring his second goal of the season last Wednesday against the Condors. Merkley scored for the second game after previously going without a goal in 13 straight games.

#5 The Barracuda take on the Condors once again this Wednesday night at Sharks Ice in San Jose for a 7:00 pm face off can the Barracuda overcome the Condors this time?

Join Marko for the Barracuda podcasts each Tuesday morning at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Golden State Warriors podcast with David Zizmor: Warriors drop two consecutive games; Go to Dallas on Thursday night

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The Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) knows things are a little off kilter as the Minnesota Timberwolves guard Patrick Beverly (right) is enjoying the moment at the Target Center in Minneapolis on Tue Mar 1, 2022 (AP News photo)

Golden State Warriors podcast with David Zizmor:

#1 Dave, Karl-Anthony Towns really took the bull by the horns and help lead the Minnesota Timberwolves (34-29) to a 129-114 victory over the Golden State Warriors (43-19) with a leading 39 points on Tuesday night at the Target Center.

#2 The Wolves were able to slow the Warriors Stephen Curry’s outside shot keeping Curry to a minimum going 5-16 on the three point attempts. Curry finished with 34 total points.

#3 The Warriors who have now lost two straight games and losing four of their last five games face the Dallas Mavericks (37-25). The Mavs are coming off two straight wins after defeating the Warriors Sunday and the Lakers Tuesday night. How do you see the Mavericks and Warriors in Dallas on Thursday night?

Join David Zizmor for the Warriors podcasts on Wednesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Jose Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa: Sharks playing .500 hockey lose to Vegas; Host Nashville on Saturday

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A for the Vegas Golden Knights Assistant wearing the letter A Reilly Smith who scored two goals against the San Jose Sharks. Here’s Reilly celebrating his second period goal at the T Mobile Center in Las Vegas on Tue Mar 1, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the SJ Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa:

#1 The Vegas Golden Knights (30-20-4) Reilly Smith who scored two goals was the difference in the Knights 3-1 win over the San Jose Sharks (24-24-6) at T Mobile Center on Tuesday night in Las Vegas.

#2 For the Knights it was important win, they were coming off two straight loses and wanted to get back in the win column and pulled it off against the Sharks who in their own right were coming off a recent win from Sunday against Seattle.

#3 The Sharks knew the Knights were a force to reckon with and didn’t give up much ground to San Jose as the Knights are third in the NHL Western Conference and are just one point behind the Los Angeles Kings and are six points behind the Calgary Flames.

#4 For the Sharks Noah Gregor scored the Sharks only goal, the Sharks goaltender James Reimer who was making his 12th start suffered a lower body injury and had to be replaced by back up Zachary Sawchenko.

#5 Next up for the Sharks the Nashville Predators (30-19-2) who have lost five of their last eight games and lost their last game to the Tampa Bay Lightning last Saturday 3-2. How do you see the Sharks and Predators matching up at SAP Center?

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

Sharks Lose 3-1 to Golden Knights, Reimer Injured

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Vegas Golden Knights center Brett Howden, left, attempts to skate around San Jose Sharks defenseman Jacob Middleton at the T Mobile Center on Tue Mar 1, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Mary Walsh

The San Jose Sharks fell to the Vegas Golden Knights 3-1 in Las Vegas on Tuesday. It was the eleventh loss in row for the Sharks against the Golden Knights. Keegan Kolesar and Reilly Smith scored for Vegas, with two goals from Smith. Robin Lehner made 16 saves for the win. Noah Gregor scored for San Jose. James Reimer made 10 saves in the first period. Zach Sawchenko made 18 saves in the second and third periods.

While admitting that some of the Sharks’ top players may be fatigued after six games in ten days, Sharks Head Coach Bob Boughner saw few positives in the loss:

“There wasn’t anything I could really say positive about our game tonight. Only thing I’d say is we found a way to keep it a one-goal game for a long time. And that’s an opportunity on the road no matter how you’re playing. You can come up with ten good minutes and find a way to win but we couldn’t muster anything up tonight.”

Sharks forward Andrew Cogliano was equally glum about the team’s lackluster performance: “That’s on us, we know the game plan. The game plan was set in stone, and obviously the game plan against these guys is to try to take away the rush. They’re very good on it and they stretch guys behind you and for whatever reason we didn’t want to do that.”

James Reimer played to the end of the first period but did not return for the second, due to a lower body injury. There were no updates on his status in the post-game.

Keegan Kolesar scored first for Vegas, just 2:16 into the game. Brett Howden carried the puck in, two-on-one with Kolesar. Just before jumping over a prone Brent Burns, he made the cross-ice pass to Kolesar for the shot.

Noah Gregor tied it 1:53 into the second period. Andrew Cogliano, below the goal line, made a pass to Nick Bonino up in the circle, and he found Gregor on the other side of the slot for a quick shot.

Reilly Smith scored his first of the game at 13:56. Jonathan Marchessault brought the puck in and made a quick cross-ice pass to Smith for the shot. Assists went to Marchessault and William Karlsson.

Smith scored his second 4:45 into the third period. Karlsson made a touch-pass off of Marchessault’s shot to get the puck to Smith. It was so quick that it looked like a double deflection from one stick to the other.

The Golden Knights out-shot the Sharks 31-17. They also beat them in the face-off circle, 29-21. There was only one power play in the game, to Vegas. The Sharks penalty kill gave up just two shots.

After the game, Andrew Cogliano explained that he had been out because his infant daughter was hospitalized over the weekend. With her improved and out of the hospital, he was able to return to the team.

Defenseman Erik Karlsson and goaltender Adin Hill may be available to rejoin the team soon.

The Sharks next play on Saturday at 5:00 PM PT in San Jose against the Nashville Predators.

Warriors Drop Second In a Row to Timberwolves 129-114

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Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) collides with Golden State Warriors center Kevon Looney as Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins, left, watches at the Target Center in Minneapolis on Tue Mar 1, 2022 (AP News photo)

Warriors Drop Second In a Row to Timberwolves 129-114

By Barbara Mason

Tuesday night the Golden State Warriors (43-19) took on the Minnesota Timberwolves (34-29) at Target Center. After Sunday’s game against the Mavericks, what we will see from the Warriors is the question of the day.

Will we see the mental mistakes that we saw Sunday? Will we see another meltdown? Will they start making those open shots? A lot of questions that will be answered tonight.

The team will still be missing Klay Thompson and Andre Iguodala. The Timberwolves Anthony Edwards will not be starting tonight.

The Timberwolves led for most of the first half. After one quarter they led 34-27. The Warriors continued to hang around until the final minutes of the second quarter when Minnesota took their largest lead of the game 68-56.

More turnovers for Golden State and again missing those open shots was hurting the Warriors. The Timberwolves Karl-Anthony Towns had the high score for Minnesota with 20 points and D’Angelo Russell had 15 at the half. The Warriors were being tested defensively in this game. Kevon Looney had seven rebounds but also had three personal fouls at halftime.

The Warriors needed to slow down Towns in the second half and start hitting those open shots if they wanted to rebound and win this game.

In the third quarter the Warriors started hitting those open shots. After trailing by 12 the Warriors had cut the deficit to four points. Five Warriors were in foul trouble, Andrew Wiggins and Gary Payton with four so another obstacle that Golden State had to deal with.

Every time the Warriors would get close, the Timberwolves would come back and extend their lead. The Warriors had worked so hard to pull to within four only to watch Minnesota extend their lead back out to 12 points.

The biggest problem in this game was for every point that Minnesota gave up, the Timberwolves would make up offensively. The Warriors were unable to slow Towns or Russell. In the fourth quarter the Timberwolves had their biggest lead of the game at 18 with six minutes left in the game.

When you miss 17 open shots it makes it difficult to come away with a win. The Warriors were looking at their second loss in a row since the All-Star game. Golden State trailed by 20 plus for most of the final four minutes of the game. The final was 129-114.

Towns finished the game with 39 points and Stephen Curry had 34 for Golden State. The Timberwolves were just too much for the Warriors tonight. Golden State got beat offensively and defensively. This could possibly be a playoff match-up as we head into the playoffs. The Warriors are in a real rut that they have to shake off going into their next game.

The Warrior have dropped six of their last eight games as they head into Dallas Thursday night to take on the Mavericks. Tipoff is schedule for 5:30 pm PST.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: MLB History of Work Stoppages

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Former Major League Baseball Players Association Executive the late Marvin Miller who organized the first strike in MLB history in 1972. Here is Miller addressing players of the Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox during spring training 1977 (New York Times file photo)

MLB History of Work Stoppages

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

MLB History of Work Stoppages (strike=players) (Lockout=Owners) caused by humans.

Date Days Reason

April 1972 13 Strike

February 1973 18 Lockout

Feb-March 1976 17 Lockout

April 1980 8 Strike

June-July 1981 50 Strike

August 1985 2 Strike

Feb-March 1980 32 Lockout

Aug 1994-March 1995 232 Strike

December 2021-Present 91 Lockout *

*2022 MLB cancels first two series of the regular season that was to begin on March 31.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: MLB: Owners and Players No Deal – – Season on Life Support

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The ball and chain of the MLB lockout continued when owners and players were far apart on the major issues at the lockout negotiations in Jupiter Florida for the ninth straight day of in person meetings (file photo from the Athletic)

MLB: Owners and Players No Deal – – Season on Life Support

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Jupiter, Florida… Owners and players’ union representatives negotiated for 16 hours, beginning Monday, Feb. 28 at 10AM until around 4 AM Tuesday the 1st of March. Both sides were dead locked this morning.

The main sticking point is the CBT (Competitive Balance Tax). Negotiations were extended after the first deadline expired. The owners made the last proposal and it was rejected unanimously by the players union. And Adios! everybody left and went home empty handed.

It has been 91 days since MLB locked out the players. The lockout started on December 2, 2021. It was thought some progress was made but not enough to close a deal that would run the business of baseball until 2027.

It has been a heck of a roller-coaster of a ride during these past eight continuous days of negotiations. Meetings have been held at the St. Louis Cardinals Spring Training park, Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in sunny Jupiter, Florida.

Major League Players’ Association leaders agreed unanimously not to accept MLB’s final proposal and there will be no deal on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement before today’s 5PM ET deadline. MLB threatened to cancel its March 31 Opening Day without a new deal. Owners also said, as late as Sunday, they were willing to cancel the entire April calendar of games.

A sad situation for the game of baseball, and for all in the business of baseball that has a financial interest. This includes the ancillary people, self-employed, media, reporters, radio and TV stations, announcers, stadium workers, vendors, food truck drivers, Uber/Lyft drivers, local restaurants, the hospitality people and many more.

In other words all the people that depend on the baseball industry to put food on their table, pay their mortgage, pay the car note, the rent and raise their kids, are “up a creek without a paddle”. All because people that rule the business, owners and players, billionaires and millionaires, could not get their own greedy ways. In my book, and overall, I blame booth sides – owners and players. A $5 gallon of gas doesn’t affect them much.

One thing I do agree with this Commissioner, (which I agree few times), this is “a disastrous outcome” to the game. A sport that once was called “The National Pastime”, today has become “The National Joke” .

Amaury Pi Gonzalez will update you on the MLB lockout at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Whose the pressure on most MLB or the Players as both sides continue to meet today; plus more news

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Philadelphia Phillies superstar Bryce Harper going to the dugout after striking out against the Miami Marlins in file photo on Sat Oct 2, 2022 at LoanDepot Park in Miami. Harper is seriously considering joining the Japanese League if the lockout continues at length (AP file photo)

On That’s Amaury:

#1 Amaury, Major League Baseball and the Major League Players Union negotiated until 2:30 AM this morning and agreed to meet again this morning. It was reported that there were gaps in some of the major issues and that some progress was made. This is the ninth day in a row of negotiations between both sides.

#2 Amaury update us on the two options the owners presented to the players on one of the major deals that looks like it can get worked out. A. 14 playoff teams, a minimum salary of around $700,000 and around $40 million in a bonus pool divided among the top pre-arbitration players. or B. 12 playoff teams, a minimum salary of around $675,000 and around $20 million in the pre-arbitration bonus pool. 

#3 Amaury, NHL announced that the NHL immediately has cut all ties with the Russian hockey leagues and any league affiliated with Russia because of the attacks and invasion on Ukraine. The league will cease doing business with any Russian league and freeze any new players coming to the NHL. The NHL currently has 50 Russian players who can stay on board with the their NHL teams.

#4 Amaury, It’s a very difficult time for the Russian players and their families who have been put in a rock and hard place. The Washington Capitals Alex Ovechkin said that he hopes for peace and knows that this will be a long tried and true test for NHL Russian players and their families.

#5 Florida Marlins CEO Derek Jeter is stepping down from the top position and he also is giving up being a part owner as well, Jeter who came over from the New York Yankees after retiring to be CEO at the Marlins.

#6 Jeter’s first act of duty when took over as CEO in 2017 was to fire long time former Marlins players who worked in the front office, Andre Dawson, Tony Perez, Jeff Conine, and former manager Jack McKeon which were unpopular moves at the time.

Join Amaury for News and Commentary podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com