Month: August 2022

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Frustration building up SF has lost 11 of last 14

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Carlos Rodon makes the start on Sat Aug 6, 2022 at the Oakland Coliseum against the Oakland A’s to open a two game series (NBC Bay Area photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 Michael just how badly is the wild card slipping away from this team?

#2 If you had to point to any two things that have gone wrong in these last 11 out 14 games what would it be?’

#3 Is Gabe Kapler’s managing in question or part of the problem that the Giants are having?

#4 What do you make of the trading of gestures between Giants pitcher Jarin Garcia and Los Angeles Dodgers Mookie Betts causing Betts and James Outman to jaw at Garcia?

#5 Taking a look at the starting pitchers for this Saturday’s contest Carlos Rodon (9-6, 3.00) he’ll be opposed by A’s starter Adam Oller (1-4, 7.68) a 4:07 pm PDT first pitch at the Oakland Coliseum how do you see this series for the Giants?

Join Michael for the Giants Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Las Vegas Raiders podcast with Rich Perez: Jacobs runs for 30 yards on five carries against Jacksonville

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Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jarrett Stidham (3) tries to evade Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Jay Tufele (97) in a keeper that Stidham would score for a touchdown on Thu Aug 4, 2022 at the Hall of Fame Game in Canton Ohio (AP News photo)

On the Raiders podcast with Rich:

#1 Rich, for Las Vegas Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels this was like a homecoming returning back to Canton Ohio to play the Hall of Fame game.

#2 Josh Jacobs, rookie Zamir White and Austin Walter stayed on top the running game for the Raiders.

# 3 In their win over the Jacksonville Jaguars 27-11 Josh Jacobs ran for 30 yards on five carries and Zamir White ran carried 11 times to get 52 yards.

#4 Quarterback Derek Carr and Davante Adams wide receiver sat out for Thursday’s game McDaniels not taking any chances.

#5 Sun Aug 14 the Raiders will host the Minnesota Vikings at Allegiant Field in Las Vegas this will be the second of four pre season games.

Join Rich Perez for all Raiders podcasts heard right here on http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s preview: A’s host Giants for brief two game series at Coliseum beginning Saturday night

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Oakland A’s slugger Ramon Laureano get congratulated upon returning to the Oakland dugout after hitting a two run home run against the Los Angeles Angels at Anaheim Stadium in Anaheim on Thu Aug 4, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND–The annual Bay Bridge series between the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants resume this Saturday in Oakland. The team split the two-game series played at Oracle Park in late April.

Both Bay Area teams are not having a good season. The A’s are in a rebuild mode as they traded away three of the best pitchers. They sent Matt Olson to Atlanta and Matt Chapman to the Toronto Blue Jays. The team has the worst record in the American League.

The A’s, however, have played better since the All-Star break. Oakland won their last two games and are 6-4 in the last ten. The Giants, winners of 107 games last year, entered the season with high hopes.

They lost Buster Posey to retirement, and Kevin Gausman signed a free-agent deal with Toronto. The Giants had most of the players back for the 2022 season. In his third year at the helm, Giants’ manager Gabe Kapler has not seen his team play as well as they did last year.

The Giants are 51-55 and are in third place in the National League West Division. They currently trail the Philadelphia Phillies by six and 1/2 games in the race for the third Wild Card slot. The Giants have lost four in a row to the hated Dodgers and are 3-7 in their last ten games.

The Giants are hoping to get back on track this weekend in Oakland. They will send their best two pitchers to face the A’s. Lefty Carlos Rodon (9-6, 3.00 ERA) will pitch on Saturday. Righty Logan Webb (9-5, 3.20 ERA) will be on the mound on Sunday.

The A’s will counter with Adam Oller (1-4, 7.68 ERA). The A’s have not announced their starter for Sunday. There is speculation that the A’s will use one of the pitchers acquired in the trade that sent Frankie Montas and Lou Trivino to the New York Yankees. The platers are Ken Waldichuk and J.P.Sears. Both are currently with the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators.

The Giants have a lot of familiar names on their roster. They won’t see Brandon Crawford, Evan Longoria, Thairo Estrada, or Joc Pedersen. All those players are on the IL. However, Brandon Belt will be at first base, as usual.

Belt has missed a lot of playing time this season to injury. Tommy La Stella or the versatile Wilmer Flores will play second. Dixon Machado will be the shortstop. J.D Davis, acquired from the New York Mets for Darrin Ruf, or rookie David Villar will be at third.

Luis Gonzalez will patrol left field for the Giants. Mike Yazstremski or Austin Slater will be in center. LaMonte Wade, Jr will play in right. Yaz or Slater can also play there if needed. The Giants have four players that can be the DH. La Stella, Flores, Davis, And Yermin Merceded will be inserted as the DH when needed.

The A’s big three power guys right now are Ramon Laureano, Sean Murphy, and Seth Brown. Brown and Murphy had two RBIs in the wild win over the Angels on Thursday. Laureano had four RBIs in the game.

The A’s are using Nick Allen, Jonah Bride, and Vimael Machin in three different infield spots as needed. Tony Kemp has played second base and left field for Oakland. Chad Pinder, Skye Bolt, and Stephen Piscotty have played in different outfield positions.

The outcome of the games will depend on the bullpens. Right now, the A’s pen has pitched well. The Giants are using Camilo Doval as the closer.

The A’s Zach Jackson earned a save Wednesday night against the A’s. He may not remain in that role as Dany Jimenez is off the IL. Jimenez pitched the eighth inning against the Angels Thursday. He struck out the side.

The A’s are expecting large crowds for the series. The teams love to beat each other and win bragging rights. It should be a fun weekend.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Daniel Dullum: Giants Kapler gets boot after sticking up for pitcher Garcia in four game sweep

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San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler argued with umpire Phil Cuzzi regarding pitcher Jarlin Garcia getting ejected during Thu Aug 4, 2022 game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Oracle Park in San Francisco (photo from Fox Sports)

On the Giants podcast with Daniel Dullum:

#1 Daniel, Clayton Kershaw left Thursday’s game after suffering back pain pitched four innings, gave up three hits, one earned run, and pitched well enough to win if he had the opportunity.

#2 The 5-3 win gives the Dodgers another four game sweep over the Giants for the second time in the last month.

#3 Giants manager Gabe Kapler got ejected after Giants pitcher Jarlin Garcia got ejected for making gestures at the Dodgers Mookie Betts.

#4 Betts and Trea Turner both hit home runs to help the Dodgers get their first four game sweep of the Giants in San Francisco since 1977.

#5 The Giants open a three game series in Oakland on Saturday night. Giants starting pitcher Carlos Rodon (9-6, 3.00) and for the A’s Adam Oller (1-4, 7.68) a 7:07 pm PDT first pitch.

Join Daniel for the Giants podcasts each Thursday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Nuts grab three run win over Ports in Class A California ball

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Thursday, August 4, 2022

By Lewis Rubman

Modesto Nuts (51-48). 10. 8. 2

Stockton Ports (33-66). 7. 11. 3

STOCKTON–Watching a ball game in the San Joaquin Valley is different from doing it on the shores of San Francisco Bay. For one, the temperature at game time was 93 degrees.

Here, in the low class A California League, Grantland Rice’s oft quoted lines “For when the One Great Scorer comes to mark against your name,/He writes – not that you won or lost – / But how you played the game,” takes on new meaning.

It’s of no great moment that the 33-66 Stockton Ports, on their way to the worst season in franchise history, dropped an 11 inning 10-7 decision to the 51-48 Modesto Nuts. What matters to the organizations to which the teams belong-the A’s and Mariners, respectively-is how well individual players performed. To the fans, it’s the pleasure of the players’ performances.

No one on the Ports’ roster figures in the list of Oakland’s top 50 prospects. Gone are the days when you could spend a balmy summer’s night watching the Matts, Chapman and Olson, strut their stuff on the banks of the delta.

The Nuts, on the other hand, boast of four top prospects. They are, in descending order Harry Ford, tonight’s DH, left fielder Gabriel González, and two. switch hitters, third baseman Milkar Pérez and center fielder Jonatán Clase.

Modesto’s starting lineup also included the delightfully named right fielder Walking Cabrera. The home plate umpire’s moniker also was a source of innocent merriment, Daniel Bytheway.

The top of the third was neither innocent nor merry. Modesto scored one run, no hits, one error, a passed ball, a balk, and two wild pitches. (The top of the second was pretty ugly, too, but you get the picture).

It wasn’t a well played game, but it was an exciting one. The victorious Nuts used four pitchers. They were, in order of appearance Jake Miednik, Chris Jefferson, José Geraldo, and the winner, Raúl Alcántara.

Clark Cota took the loss for the Ports, whose other hurlers were the starter, Yehizón Sánchez, followed by Luke Anderson, Hunter Brreault, Ed Baram, and Cota.

Gauff cruises past Osaka, Rogers upsets number one seed Sakkari and Sabalenka advances to quarterfinals on Day 4 at MSVC

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Coco Gauff celebrates her victory over Naomi Osaka in her round of 16 match at the San Jose State Tennis Center on Thursday AUG 4, 2022. (Ed Jay-Ultimate Sports Guide)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — This is Coco Gauff’s tournament to lose.

The 18-year-old sensation powered past four-time grand slam champion Naomi Osaka in straight sets 6-4 6-4 in her round of 16 match that highlighted Day 4 action at the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic on Wednesday evening at the San Jose State Tennis Center.

Gauff broke service once in the first and twice in the second set to punch her ticket to the quarterfinals on a night where a sold-out crowd of 2,250 witnessed the phenom in all her glory. Gauff will face second seeded Paula Badosa on Friday afternoon.

Osaka, down 1-5 in the second set, surged back into it winning the next three matches by fighting off match point seven times. In the end Gauff was too much to handle as she served to win the final game and the match that lasted just under 90 minutes.

“I think I have improved in all aspects (of my game),” said Gauff. “I think today showed it. I knew playing Naomi (Osaka) was going to be tough. I think she has one of the best baseline games in the game. I think today I really held my ground and was really a lot more of those rallies that she was and I think that shows how much I’ve been improving in the last few weeks.”

For Osaka, despite the outcome she was pleased to be back on the court playing again since last playing a tournament in May of this year.

“Dang I’m really sore!,” Osaka laughingly said when asked what her experience was like this week. “I totally forgot how that felt. It’s really good to get my foot in the door again. My friends, they cheered me up after the match. But honestly, I wasn’t that upset.

American Shelby Rogers continued her impressive run at Mubadala with her straight sets upset victory over number one seeded Maria Sakkari of Grece 6-1 6-3.

Rogers showcased her strong serve that had not only the number three player in the world flabbergasted but everyone in the crowd as well. She fired 10 aces during the match.

While Rogers looked confident and in control, Sakkari looked flat on the hard court and was not able to establish her game in the match that was completed in just 72 minutes.

“I think for me, this week I’m just stepping up to the line,” Rogers said. “First target that comes to my mind I’m going with it. I’m not second guessing myself. Just trusting it as much as I can. It’s a little bit of conviction and it’s been working.”

Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka won a tough three-set match against American Caroline Dolehide 5-7 6-1 7-5. Sabalenka started the match off slow but gained her form in the second set.

Dolehide didn’t go down quietly in the third set as she evened the set at 5-5. Sabalenka was able to break serve and win the final two games to advance to the Friday’s quarterfinals.

“It was a pretty crazy match,” said Sabalenka. “She (Dolehide) played really well. I didn’t play well in the first set, and I was struggling with my serve to be honest. In the second and third sets I was able to come back and fight through the up and downs during this match.”

In earlier action, Veronika Kudermetova defeated American Claire Liu in straight sets 6-2 7-5 to advance to her first Mubadala quarterfinals. She takes on number two seeded Ons Jabeur on Friday afternoon.

Kudermetova also has success in doubles action. Her and her partner Zhang Shuai defeated the team of Dolehide and Storm Sanders in a three-set match 6-2 5-7 10-8 to advance to the semifinals.

The final doubles match to conclude the evening itinerary had Shuko Aoyama and Hao Ching-Chan defeat the duo of Demi Schuurs and Desirae Krawcyzk 6-3 6-3 to advance to the semi-finals.

UP NEXT: It’s an all-American affair when Amanda Anisimova battles Rogers in the evening’s featured quarterfinal match on Friday at 7:00pm at the San Jose Tennis Center.

Aces rally late, fall short to Wings, 82-80

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Photo Credit: AP Photo/Elaine Thompson

By Shawn McCullough

The Aces erased a 14-point deficit in the 4th quarter, but fell short to the Wings, 82-80, in Dallas.

“Hard fought game,” said head coach Becky Hammon. “I thought we were digging out of a hole most of the game, but we were there at the end.”

Down two points with 3.8 seconds left, guard Chelsea Gray inbounded the ball on a set play to spring center A’ja Wilson, but Wilson missed the layup to send the game to overtime.

“It happens,” said Gray. “It’s going to hurt, but we should have never been in that position in the first place.”

“A’ja was the first option, it was a catch and shoot play,” said Hammon.

Wings center Teaira McCowan led Dallas with 21 points and 16 rebounds.

“That’s a team [Dallas] that is playing for its playoff life and they are playing well right now,” said Hammon.

Gray led the Aces with 28 points, hitting five three-point shots, while forward Jackie Young added 19.

“My teammates were getting me the ball and I was just knocking them down,” said Gray.

With the loss, the Aces fell to 22-10 on the season.

The Aces will play the last game of a five-game road trip on Sunday against the Storm in Seattle.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

The Aces shot 44.9% from the field and hit 10 shots from three-point range.
Las Vegas was out-rebounded by the Wings, 37-32.
The Aces got just two points off the bench.

Game Starters:

C – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 5 Dearica Hamby
F – 0 Jackie Young
G – 10 Kelsey Plum
G – 12 Chelsea Gray

Aces Injury Report:

None

“Who wouldn’t be frustrated? We’re all frustrated. We don’t want to play like this.”

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–A season after winning 107 regular season games, the Giants are stuck trying to win one. It’s been a process, and it’s still ongoing.

Losing eight straight to the Dodgers? Eleven straight to NL West opponents? Frustrating, even more so after Thursday afternoon’s 5-3 loss to the Dodgers that saw manager Gabe Kapler ejected along with reliever Jarlin Garcia.

“Obviously, I took exception to sort of being scolded in front of our dugout about how to approach and address our players,” Kapler said after the game.

The Giants struck early when newly-acquired J.D. Davis homered to put the Giants up 2-1. But in the top of the fourth, Mookie Betts’ three-run homer gave the Dodgers a lead that stung. Starter Jakob Junis walked number nine hitter James Outman, and Betts, the first batter faced by John Brebbia, struck with two runners aboard. Betts’ innocuous hand to side of the head gesture to his teammates caught the attention of Garcia, who wasn’t even in the game at that point.

When Garcia entered in the sixth, he was effective, preserving the two-run deficit with a pair of strikeouts. But when leaving the field Garcia mimicked Betts and followed with a few words for the slugger, who was in the on-deck circle. That drew the attention of first base umpire Phil Cuzzi, who followed Garcia and Kapler back to the Giants’ dugout. Cuzzi demanded that Kapler get his guy off the field, which he had, and that led to Kapler losing his cool with the umpire, and getting tossed.

“I had already gotten Jarlín off the field. Things were completely under control,” Kapler said. “I wasn’t happy with it and probably didn’t handle it perfectly.”

In the seventh, the Dodgers’ lead grew to 5-2 when Trae Turner homered off Yunior Marte. The Giants managed just five hits in the game, and did little to threaten after the Turner home run, falling four games below .500 for the first time this season.

Chris Martin picked up the win for the Dodgers, pitching a scoreless sixth inning. Starter Clayton Kershaw departed after four innings complaining of back discomfort. Kershaw threw 66 pitches, allowing the Davis home run, but the news of his discomfort was the only bad news for the visitors.

“Given it’s his back which has been problematic at times — we just won’t know more until we get some tests,” manager Dave Roberts said.

The Giants have Friday off before traveling to Oakland for two over the weekend with the A’s. Beware: the A’s also are playing well, and less likely to be trumped by the Giants, who are hopeful of Evan Longoria’s return and Brandon Crawford.

A’s win a wild one over LA ; Angels hit seven home runs and still lost 8-7

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By Jerry Feitelberg

An adage in baseball says, “you never know what is going to happen in a game.” The A’s and Angels played a wild one Thursday afternoon at Angel Stadium in Anaheim. The Angels hit seven solo home runs and lost 8-7.

It was the sixth time in baseball history that a team has hit seven home runs in a game and lost. Angels fans left the stadium, shaking their heads in disbelief. How could this happen? Yet it did. The A’s offense produced six runs in the third and two in the fourth. The Angels’ bullpen allowed the a’s just one hit over the next five innings.

The Angels’ DH, Shohei Ohtani, started the homer parade by hitting his 23rd of the year to give the Angels an early 1-0 lead. Former A’s catcher Kurt Suzuki made it 2-0 in favor of LA when he blasted his third dinger of the year in the bottom of the second inning.

The A’s offense came to life in the top of the third. A’s second baseman Jonah Bride got things going with a single. Third baseman Vimael Machin reached on a fielder’s choice. Bride was out at second. Angels’ starter Janson Junk walked Nick Allen and Tony Kemp to load the bases.

Ramon Laureano doubled to drive in Machin and Allen. Sean Murphy doubled to drive in Kemp and Laureano. Seth Brown hit his 16th home run of the year to put the A’s ahead 6-2. The A’s sent 11 hitters to the plate in the third. Tayloe Ward led off the bottom of the third with his 14th big fly to make it 8-3.

The A’s put two more runs on the board in the fourth. With one out, Tony Kemp bunted for a single. Laureano homered to make it an 8-3 ball game. In the bottom of the fourth, Blackburn gave up a solo home run to the Angels’ left fielder Jo Adell. It was the first time in Blackburn’s career that he gave up four home runs in a game. The A’s led 8-4

Blackburn left the game after pitching five innings. Lefty Sam Moll was on the hill for Oakland. Angels’ first baseman Jared Walsh homered with one out to close the gap to 8-5. Lefty Kirby Snead was brought in to pitch the seventh.

He hit the first batter he faced with a pitch. He got Taylor Ward to hit into a 6-4-3 double play. The next hitter was Shohei Ohtani. Snead threw Ohtani a pitch that appeared to be about three inches inside. Ohtani turned on the pitch and sent the ball out of the park for his 24th of the year. It was now an 8-6 game.

A’s manager Mark Kotsay brought Dany Jimenez to pitch the eighth inning. Jimenez was making his first appearance since coming off the 10-day IL. How did he do? He struck out the side. Zach Jackson, who earned his third save of the year yesterday, had the task of getting the last three outs of the game. Jackson struck out Kurt Suzuki for the first out.

The next hitter, Mickey Moniak, recently acquired in a trade with the Phillies, hit his first home run as an Angel. It was the seventh solo Angel Home run. Jackson walked pinch-hitter, Max Stassi. Jackson struck out Ward for the second out.

Shohei Ohtani came to the plate as the potential winning run. Mark Kotsay brought the very tall A.J.Puk to pitch to Ohtani. It was a very tense moment in the game. The suspense ended when Ohtani popped out on Puk’s first pitch. The A’s win 8-7.

Game Notes- With the win, the A’s are 41-66. Oakland ended the six-game road trip 3-3. The Angels dropped to 44-61. Paul Blackburn was the winning pitcher. His record is now 7-6. His line was five innings pitched, six hits, four runs, one walk, three strikeouts, and four home runs. The losing pitcher was Janson Junk. Junk is now 1-1.

The A’s line was eight runs, eight hits, and no errors. Ramon Laureano had a double, home run, and four RBIs. Sean Murphy drove in two, and Seth Brown’s 16th of the year put two more on the board for Oakland.
Shohei Ohtani had three hits for the Angels. He had a single and two home runs. It was the 11th time in his career that he had two homers in a game. The Line score for the Angels was seven runs, nine hits, and no errors.
The A’s are off on Friday. They return home to face the San Francisco Giants on Saturday and Sunday. Then, they face the Angels for three more games starting on Monday. Starting pitchers for Saturday’s game for San Francisco Carlos Rodon (9-6, 3.00) for Oakland (1-4, 7.68) 7:07 pm PDT first pitch.

The time of the game was 3:25. 23,849 fans watched nine balls fly out of the park as the A’s outlasted the Angels 8-7.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Will latest lawsuit be the one to stop A’s move to Howard Terminal?

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Oakland A’s team president David Kaval in green shirt said that the lawsuit filed by the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association could stop the Howard Terminal project (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 Bay Conservation and Development Commission who voted for the Howard Terminal project is now facing a lawsuit brought on by the East Oakland Stadium Alliance and Pacific Merchant Shipping Association, the Harbor Trucking Association and the California Trucking Association the plaintiffs say that the vote by the BCDC was too fast with not enough thought process going into the project.

#2 Pacific Merchant lawyer and vice president Mike Jacob said that the A’s are only interested in doing something fast where the plaintiffs want to do something right.

#3 MLB and David Kaval the A’s team president have made it clear if the A’s don’t get to move to Howard Terminal there headed to Las Vegas and Kaval stated that he has visited several potential sites and said that it’s easy to build in Vegas than in Oakland.

#4 Jerry, with the trades of Frankie Montas and Lou Trivino how much of a setback will it be for Oakland going forward.

#5 For today’s fourth and final contest in Anaheim going for the A’s Paul Blackburn (6-6, 4.15) and for the Angels Janson Junk (1-0, 0.00) a 12:07 pm PDT fist pitch.

Join Jerry for the A’s podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com