Month: March 2022

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Who will be the leading candidate for first base for the A’s

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Oakland A’s Seth Brown (center) gets congratulations from former A’s third base Matt Chapman after hitting a two run home run back on Fri Jun 11, 2022 at Oakland Coliseum against the Kansas City Royals. Brown is auditioning for a job to start at first base which has been vacated after Matt Olson left for Atlanta (AP file photo)

On That’s Amaury podcast:

#1 The Oakland A’s are looking for a first baseman after the trade of Matt Olson to the Atlanta Braves. One name came up was Seth Brown who has played 200 minor league games at first but only 13 with the A’s.

#2 The A’s are looking at Eric Thames a non roster invitee who played first base with the 2019 Milwaukee Brewers hit 25 home runs. That said he has had Achilles surgery and is 35 years old.

#3 The A’s in Sunday’s Cactus League game started at first base Dalton Kelly who was a Tampa Bay Rays prospect and is 27 years old. Kelly in the Rays Triple A farm club hit .244, 27 home runs and show promise with the glove on defense.

#4 A’s pitcher Sean Manaea has said that he’s trying to ignore all the trade rumors and is trying to focus on getting ready for the season. He knows that he’s on the bubble and numerous teams have expressed interest for his services.

#5 The St Louis Cardinals have expressed interest in obtaining both Manaea and pitcher Frankie Montas. Meanwhile the Minnesota Twins have been inquiring about Montas’ services but the A’s are waiting for the right offer.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead Spanish radio play by play talent for the Oakland A’s on flagship station 1010 KIQI La Grande San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sharks Trade Middleton, Cogliano, Merkley, Acquire Kahkonen, Bitteto, Picks

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The San Jose Sharks in a trade acquired goaltender Kappo Kahkonnen from the Minnesota Wild seen in photo file on Mon Mar 21, 2022 (file photo from Hockey Wilderness)

By Mary Walsh

SAN JOSE– On Monday, the trade deadline, the San Jose Sharks moved three players to playoff contenders. They traded defenseman Jake Middleton to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen and a 2022 fifth-round draft pick. Forward Nick Merkley went to the New York Rangers in exchange for defenseman Anthony Bitteto. The Sharks sent forward Andrew Cogliano to the Colorado Avalanche for a 2024 fifth round draft pick. San Jose also traded goaltender Alexei Melnichuk to the Tampa Bay Lightning for center Antoine Morand.

Jake Middleton has been with the Sharks organization since 2017, when he was signed as a free agent. He played in 59 games with the Sharks, scored nine points and had 82 penalty minutes.

Last season, Kaapo Kahkonen set a Wild rookie record, posting nine consecutive wins. He played 25 games with the Wild this season, posting a record of 12-8-3, a 2.87 GAA and a .910 save percentage. In his 54-game NHL career, his record is 31-17-4, a 2.89 GAA and a .907 save percentage. He will become a restricted free agent next season.

After the trade, Kahkonen talked about the trade and what he knows about the Sharks:

A good team. You know, the games I played against San Jose, I remember there’s a lot of good players there. I think it’s going to be, for sure we’re going to be a team that’s going to be able to compete in the near future and it’s going to be a great opportunity.

Kahkonen was asked whether he expected to be traded by the Wild. He said:

“I had no idea. I was actually on the ice, they pulled me out of there from the morning skate and just told me I had to leave the ice. At first I was kind of thinking that something happened to someone in my family or something but… so I was scared but then I heard I was getting traded.”

In a press release Monday, the Sharks said: “Kaapo is a quick, athletic goaltender who has shown the ability to win consistently at every level he has played,” San Jose assistant general manager Joe Will said. “He provides our club additional depth at the goaltending position this season and in the coming years.”

The Sharks acquired Nick Merkley last summer from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for defenseman Christian Jaros. Merkley played nine games with the Sharks and earned one goal and two assists.

Of Anthony Bitteto, a Sharks press release said:

“‘Anthony is a physical, veteran defenseman who gives us additional depth on our blueline,’ said Sharks Assistant General Manager Joe Will.

“This season, Bitetto has appeared in 39 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League, posting 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) and 26 penalty minutes in 39 games. He ranks second among team defensemen in goals and third in both assists and points.

“Bitetto has appeared in 197 NHL games with Nashville, Minnesota, Winnipeg, and the Rangers, posting 31 points (three goals, 28 assists) and 142 penalty minutes.”

Bitteto will be a free agent this summer.

Andrew Cogliano played 56 games with the Sharks this season, scored four goals and earned eleven assists. He will be a free agent this summer. In a press release, the Sharks said:

“Andrew was an important leader and a respected veteran in our dressing room this season,” said Sharks Assistant General Manager Joe Will. “Our players will be better pros for having had Andrew as a teammate.”

Antoine Morand has yet to play in the NHL. In their press release, the Sharks said:

In 138 AHL games with San Diego and Syracuse, Morand has posted 44 points (15 goals, 29 assists).

The five-foot-eleven, 190-pound native of Chateauguay, Quebec was originally selected by Anaheim in the second round (60th overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft.

Melnichuk appeared in three games with the Sharks last season. In their press release, the Sharks said:

Melnichuk appeared in 31 games with the Barracuda this season, posting a 10-14-2 record with a 3.92 goals-against average and an .867 save percentage.

Tomas Hertl is staying put with an eight-year contract extension, as the Sharks announced last week. The Sharks also did not move goaltender James Reimer, or forward Alexander Barabanov. Both players made the trade rumor mill before the deadline. Barabanov will be a free agent this summer and Reimer has one more season under contract with the Sharks.

Sacramento Kings podcast with Morris Phillips: Kings gave it their all in overtime loss to Suns on Sunday

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The Phoenix Suns Landry Shamet takes a three point shot against the Sacramento Kings in the overtime stanza for what would be the game winner at Golden One Arena in Sacramento on Sun Mar 20, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the Sacramento Kings podcast with Morris:

#1 Morris at one time during Sunday’s game against the Phoenix Suns (58-14) the Sacramento Kings (25-48) had a ten point lead in third period but with a whole fourth period left the Suns came back out scoring the Kings 27-23 to force a tie and go into overtime.

#2 The Suns Devin Booker fouled out of the game and that handicapped the Suns slightly and the Kings who tied things up at the end of the fourth period 124-124 looked as if they might have a shot at beating one of the best teams in the NBA.

#3 With 31 seconds left the Suns Landry Shamet hit a three pointer in the overtime stanza after missing an previous shot above the arc and the three pointer by Shamet proved to be the game winner.

#4 The Kings in their own right were short handed missing their key offensive star point guard De’Aaron Fox as Davion Mitchell started for Fox and scored 28 points and Domantas Sabonis had 18 points great effort tough loss for Sacramento.

#5 The Kings will tip off against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night at 4:00 pm PDT. The Pacers have won four of their last six games including a 129-98 win against the Portland Trailblazers on Sunday afternoon in Indianapolis. On the other hand the Kings have now lost six of their last seven games and Sunday’s game against the Suns could actually have been one of their best despite losing.

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

Golden State Warriors podcast with Barbara Mason: Warriors drop second straight game; Curry to miss two weeks

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Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry takes in the game from the Warriors bench against the San Antonio Spurs at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Sun Mar 20, 2022. Curry is expected to miss two weeks of action due to a left foot injury. (AP News photo)

On the Warriors podcast with Barbara Mason:

1. Setback for James Wiseman and what that means for the Warriors.

2. More news for the Warriors in Stephen Curry missing two weeks at the very least.

3. Last night’s crazy game against the San Antonio Spurs and who were the heroes for Golden State

4. Draymond Green misstep and what that meant in this game.

5. Thoughts on the Warriors road game Tuesday night in Orlando against the Orlando Magic (19-53)

Join Barbara Mason for the Warriors podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Suns overtake Kings 127-124 in OT

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Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) is fouled by Sacramento Kings forward Trey Lyles (41) in the second half at the Golden One Arena Sacramento on Sun Mar 21, 2022 (AP News photo)  

By Daniel Dullum
Sunday, March 20, 2022

The Phoenix Suns continued their winning ways Sunday at Golden 1 Center, squeaking out a 127-124 overtime win over the Sacramento Kings. Sacramento has lost 10 of its last 13 games.

Landry Shamet sank a 3-pointer with 31 seconds left in the extra period to put the league-leading Suns ahead to stay. Moments earlier, Damien Jones converted a put back to give Sacramento a 121-120 lead shortly after the Suns’ Devin Booker fouled out.

It was Shamet’s fifth 3-pointer of the game. He finished with 21 points, followed by Deandre Ayton with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Backup center JaVale contributed 14 points before fouling out in overtime.

After Mikal Bridges sank the second of two free throws, Jones made 1 of 2 from the stripe, Aaron Holiday got the rebound on the second free throw and Torrey Craig’s dunk sealed the game for Phoenix.

Booker’s jump shot put Phoenix ahead 110-108 with eight seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, but a layup by Davion Mitchell forced overtime.

Booker scored 19 of his 31 points in the third quarter as the Suns improved to 58-14, nine games ahead of Memphis in the overall NBA standings. There’s been a lot of pressure on Booker to pick up the slack while Chris Paul is sidelined with a broken right thumb, and sixth-man Cam Johnson is sidelined with a right quad contusion.

The Suns were also without backup point guard Cam Payne due to a non-COVID-19 illness, And Jae Crowder left the game with a right foot injury in the third quarter.

Mitchell had 28 points and nine assists for Sacramento while filling in for the injured De’Aaron Fox. Domantas Sabois added 18 points, 12 rebounds and six assists before leaving the game with a possible left knee injury.

The Kings travel to Indiana to face the Pacers on Wednesday.

Warriors Lose In Final Seconds to Spurs 110-108

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San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (3) leads the charge after hitting the game winning shot at the Chase Center in San Francisco against the Golden State Warriors on Sun Mar 20, 2022 (AP News photo)

Warriors Lose In Final Seconds to Spurs 110-108

By Barbara Mason

What will the Golden State Warriors look like without Stephen Curry taking the court for at last the next two weeks? The Warriors got their answer Sunday night when the Warriors (47-23) took on the San Antonio Spurs (27-44) in a two point loss 110-108 at the Chase Center in San Francisco.

The Warriors know that everything including games won go way down without Curry playing. This means that everybody has to step their game up offensively and defensively. These guys need to be a fine-oiled machine when Curry does comes back for the playoffs. The team now has the time to gel and prepare for the post-season and Curry’s return.

The lineup for the Warriors in this game was a more than capable bunch with the expected Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Jordan Poole, Andrew Wiggins and Kevon Looney.

It was a very slow start for Golden State falling behind 22-10 in the first quarter. The Spurs were keeping the Warriors out of rhythm which resulted in so many missed shots for Golden State. This was the obvious game plan that the Spurs came in with. San Antonio led after the first quarter 36-22. The Warriors had four turnovers in the quarter and had a lot of work to do in the second quarter.

The Warriors cut the Spurs lead in the second quarter to four points but San Antonio quickly pulled back to a ten point lead. Golden State wanted to end the half on a high taking the momentum away from San Antonio.

The Warriors did cut the 14 point Spur lead to six. San Antonio had a beat-the-buzzer three point play to end the half leading 63-57. Despite that last play the Warriors did have to feel good after two quarters. They played with more energy and rhythm in the second quarter and needed to take that into the third.

As the third quarter got underway San Antonio proved hard to catch. Golden State had not led once in the game. The Warriors got within one point in the early minutes of the quarter but had yet to take the lead.

The one thing that the Warriors had going for them in this game was their offensive rebounding which was great with second and third chances. When it looked like the Warriors had a better rhythm going a miserable call on Green got Green ejected from the game and the Warriors were facing yet another challenge.

The Spurs took advantage of the fracas and took a ten point lead. The 12 turnovers that the Warriors had were not make things any easier for Golden State. The Warriors were fighting to stay within striking distance.

The Warriors were coming up with some stellar possessions but still trailed. With 27 seconds left in the third quarter, the Warriors took their first lead of the game 84-83. They took that lead into the fourth quarter.

Going into the fourth quarter there had been 23 Spur points off Warrior turnovers. This game would go down to the wire. With under three minutes left in the game it was all tied up at 101. San Antonio would foul Wiggins with three seconds left on the clock and the Warriors would take a 108- 107 lead. An unfortunate rebounding foul on Kevon Looney iced the game for San Antonio 110-108.

The Warriors had enough to win this game but it just didn’t happen. Poole finished with 28 points the high in this game. This was his ninth straight game with 20 or more points. Thompson had 24 points and off the bench Porter Jr. had 16 points and 16 rebounds. Great numbers for the Warriors. It’s a loss and it stinks but a lot of positives to take away from this game.

Next up for the Warriors will be the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:00 PT.

Sharks Beat Coyotes 4-2, Gregor Scores Gamer

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San Jose Sharks center Noah Gregor (73) scores a third period goal against Arizona Coyotes goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) for the game winner at SAP Center in San Jose on Sun Mar 20, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Mary Walsh

SAN JOSE- The San Jose Sharks beat the Arizona Coyotes 4-2 on Sunday, ending their losing streak at three games. Nick Bonino, Timo Meier, Noah Gregor and Rudolfs Balcers scored for the Sharks. James Reimer made 23 saves for the win. Phil Kessel and Lawson Crouse scored for Arizona. Karel Vejmelka made 25 saves in the loss.

After the game, Sharks Head Coach Bob Boughner said: “I thought we came out hard, first five minutes. I thought that we started trying to be a little too fancy, not shooting enough pucks.” He mentioned how the Sharks knew very well that the Coyotes play a similar neutral zone game to their own, then added: “A little hard-headed, we refused to sort of chip pucks, dump pucks. We tried to skate through their wall, just as we’d want teams to do to us.”

Nevertheless, he said that the team “found a way to win, where lots of times this year it’s been the opposite.”

Of Noah Gregor, Of Noah Gregor, who has had terrible puck luck this season, Sharks Captain Logan Couture said:

Mario [Ferraro] told me before the game “Greggy’s scoring tonight. I said “no he’s not.” (laughs) So I was wrong. Great goal, great goal. He used his speed, I though he was excellent all night. I think he was probably our best player. All over the puck, creating chances. You know, he’s had a lot of games like that this year.

The Sharks scored on their first shot of their first shift of the game for a 1-0 lead. Nick Bonino redirected Andrew Colgiano’s shot into Anton Stralman’s skate for the goal. Assists went to Cogliano and Noah Gregor.

That lead lasted until late in the second period when Phil Kessel caught a pass across the slot from Lawson Crouse. Kessel had an open net to tie it up. Assists went to Crouse and Cam Dineen.

It was a sluggish game through the first two periods. The shot count was 15-14 Arizona. The Sharks had two power plays and the Coyotes had one. The Coyotes got three shots in that one power play and the Sharks had just one shot in their two opportunities.

The Coyotes took a lead at 15:09 of the third period. Lawson Crouse scored on the power play with a redirection off the heel of his stick. Assists went to Kessel and Shayne Gostisbehere.

Timo Meier tied it back up less that 30 seconds later. Alexander Barabanov tried for a pass around the boards to Tomas Hertl but it bounced away from Hertl and went right to Meier for the shot. Assists went to Barabanov and Jaycob Megna.

Noah Gregor scored the game winner less than a minute after that. Gregor had the puck behind the net and he saw the goalie move left so he went right for a backhand wrap-around. Logan Couture got the assist.

Rudolfs Balcers scored the insurance goal at 19:10 into an empty net with a shot from a bad angle.

The Sharks led the third in shots 15-10. Each team had a power play in the third, and both power plays had four shots on goal. The Sharks maintained a slight lead in the face-offs, finishing with 51%.

Jonathan Dahlen took a puck to the face late in the game and did not return. Alexander Barabanov was cross-checked and went into the boards head first but he stayed in the game. Andrew Cogliano Crashed into his own net but he also stayed in.

The Sharks next play on Tuesday in Calgary against the Flames at 6:00 PM PT.

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Barracuda look to get revenge on Heat Tuesday night at SAP Center

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The San Jose Barracuda Sasha Cmelevski scored the Barracuda first goal of their game against the Tucson Roadrunners at Tucson Arena on Sat Mar 19, 2022 ( file photo from nhl.com)

On the Barracuda podcast with Marko:

#1 The SJ Barracuda are getting some offense from The San Jose Barracuda beat the Tucson Roadrunners 5-2 Saturday. Sasha Cmelevski, Lane Pedersen, Nick Cicek, Joachim Blichfeld and Nick Merkley who scored goals against the Arizona Roadrunners on Saturday night in the 5-2 win.

#2 The Barracuda goaltender Alexei Melnichuk made 32 saves for the win and allowed two goals.

#3 For the first Barracuda goal of the game, Sasha Chmelevski scored the opening goal for San Jose at 6:18 of the first period. He carried the puck into the zone and then cut across to the slot, evading defenders. As he passed through the slot he took the shot and beat Prosvetov on the glove side. 

#4 Lane Pedersen made it 2-0 at 14:45 with a shot from a bad angle along the boards that snuck by Prosvetov. An assist went to Jayden Halbgewachs.

#5 The Barracuda return back to SAP Center in San Jose on Tue Mar 22 to host the Stockton Heat the last time these two teams met the Heat beat the Barracuda by three goals 6-3 on Sat Mar 12th at Stockton Arena.

San Jose Barracuda podcasts with Marko are heard Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Earthquakes fall to Minnesota United 1-0

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The Minnesota United FC’s Luis Amarilla scored nine minutes into the first half that’s all the United would need to defeat the visiting San Jose Earthquakes at Allianz Field in St. Paul Sat Mar 19, 2022 (file photo from mls.com)

by Marko Ukalovic

ST.PAUL, Minn. — Luis Amarilla scored a first-half strike, and it was all Minnesota United FC needed to overcome the San Jose Earthquakes 1-0 at Allianz Field on Saturday night.

Amarilla had a mini-redemption arc over nine minutes of an action-packed first half to get MNUFC (2-0-2) on the board. After just putting a chip attempt over the crossbar in the 23rd minute, leading a break that looked sure to produce the game’s opener, Amarilla struck gold in the 32nd minute, making a defense-splitting run to meet Robin Lod’s pass from the wing, and finishing smartly.

“We knew they could hurt us with [Luis] Amarilla, where they looked for him a lot with their crosses and that’s how they scored. After they went up, we still couldn’t find our groove. It was one of the worst starts that we’ve had,” said Quakes head coach Matias Almeyda.

In the second half, the teams dueled each other without adding to the scoresheet. Benji Kikanovic came closest for the Quakes (0-3-1) on a 56th-minute attempt. The Loons threatened to double their lead on a Bongokuhle Hlongwane corker and a Lod scorpion kick that nearly fell below the crossbar before an attentive JT Marcinkowski palmed it out.

The Quakes’ keeper also saved on a 1-on-1 situation in stoppage time against Franco Fragapance to give his offense one last-gasp chance.

“The roles changed a little bit at halftime and that gave us some more numbers out wide to try and create some overloads in wide areas. I thought we did that well late on,” said Quakes defender Tanner Beason.

Dayne St. Clair had a perfect clean sheet as the Quakes did not register a shot on net. Marcinkowski made four saves on five shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: Each team finished with four corner kicks.

The Quakes now hold a 4-4-2 all-time record against Minnesota United FC, including a 2-2-1 record on the road.

UP NEXT: San Jose returns back to action after the International break as they host Austin FC on Saturday 4/2 at 4:30pm at Pay Pal Park.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Kaval says until a new stadium plan is in place more favorite players will leave

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Oakland A’s team president David Kaval (center) addresses the media with Ces Butner, president of the Board of Port Commissioners (left) and Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf (right) at a news conference back on Nov 28, 2018 regarding the new Howard Terminal park in downtown Oakland. This past week the Seaport Planning Advisory Commission recommended against the new Howard Terminal ballpark in what is considered a major setback for the A’s (AP file photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 Jerry let’s ask you about some of what Oakland A’s president David Kaval said concerning why the A’s are unloading some of their key players. Kaval said in order to have a high payroll the A’s have to have a facility that’s on the level of a Camden Yards, Oracle Park, Petco Park. At the Coliseum the A’s can’t make that kind of revenue and once the A’s can get that kind of revenue and new park to play in then they can consider a high payroll.

#2 Kaval said that a lot of the players that were traded away, Matt Olson, Mark Canha, Starling Marte, Matt Chapman, and soon to leave A’s pitcher Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea are being dealt to see if the A’s can pick up a good return on prospects and Kaval said it’s no secret that vice president Billy Beane and general manager David Forst have built this team up like this in the past.

#3 Kaval said the A’s have not had a normal season in three years that has impacted the team financially, In 2020 a 60 game season with no fans, in 2021 a 162 game season with Covid 19 restrictions, and 2022 a lockout to begin the season.

#4 Kaval said in not signing the star players and keeping key players not having a new stadium in place holding back the A’s adding that the Coliseum in antiquated and it’s been ten years since it’s life expectancy and in order to move ahead with keeping a higher payroll a new stadium is needed.

#5 Kaval said on the higher ticket prices and key players leaving that everything in dependent on getting a new stadium and that elected officials and fans understand that raising revenue is all riding on getting a new stadium.

Jerry does the A’s podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com