Month: July 2023

MLB The Show podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Angels most likely won’t deal Ohtani to Dodgers; Padres and Giants could be in the running; more MLB news

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Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani might not be dealt to a California team but the San Diego Padres and the San Francisco Giants might be in the running during free agency (photo from yahoo.com sports)

MLB The Show podcast with Stephen Ruderman:

#1 Stephen, the Los Angeles Angels two way player Shohei Ohtani according to Angels owner Arturo Moreno will not be traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers before this month’s trade deadline. The Angels do not want to deal Ohtani to a California team.

#2 Ohtani could wind up as a rental in Baltimore. The Orioles are second in the AL East and could either get Ohtani as a rental or get him as a free agent. Either way an acquisition of Ohtani could spell big things for the Orioles who knocking at the East’s door.

#3 Stephen, the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants are strong candidates in the Ohtani free agency sweepstakes but the Padres have a pretty big payroll with Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr, and Juan Soto will they add another $700 million to their payroll and the Giants may not spend that type of money for Ohtani.

#4 Former Cincinnati Reds catcher Johnny Bench made an antisemetic joke on Sunday at a Reds press conference about former Cincinnati Reds general manager Gabe Paul who Pete Rose said paid him $400 per month when someone said “that’s cheap” and Bench interjected saying “He was Jewish” later Bench asked Paul’s daughter Jennie Paul if she was offended where Jennie replied she didn’t hear what Bench said. Bench apologized to Jennie and said that his remark took away from Paul’s achievement.

#5 The San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado joined the 300 home run club in the first game of a doubleheader in Philadelphia on Saturday with the score tied 3-3 and a 2-2 count and facing the Phils pitcher Matt Strahm, Machado hit a 94 MPH fastball 425 feet into the second deck at Citizens Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia. The Padres didn’t win 6-4 but Machado got the milestone.

Join Stephen for the MLB podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Doubles and brilliant relief stymie A’s 7-0; Red Sox throw combined 1 hitter at Oakland

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Oakland Athletics Ryan Noda flips the ball back to pitcher Paul Blackburn against the Boston Red Sox at the Oakland Coliseum on Mon Jul 17, 2023 (AP News photo)

Boston (51-44). 110 004 001. – 7. 10. 0

Oakland (25-71) 000.000 000. – 0. 1. 0

Time: 2:37

Attendance: 9,987

Monday, July 17, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–The Red Sox are having pitching trouble this season. Injuries have reduced their starting rotation to three, with two out of every five games featuring an opener. The team they fielded this evening had a respectable 50-44 won-lost record but nonetheless was in last place in the American League East, nine games behind the division leading Rays.

The Sox went the bullpen route again today, choosing as their opener Brennan Bernardino, who had shut out the A’s over two innings in his opener role ten days ago in Fenway. The young southpaw was followed by Nick Pivettta after Bernardino had completed his fourth consecutive scoreless frame against Oakland.

Pivetta was the real story of the night. He pitched six innings of no hit relief, walking two, and striking out 13 of the 20 batters he faced. He threw 87 pitches, 58 for strikes. He got credit for the Red Sox’ 7-0 win, his sixth against five defeats, and lowered his ERA to 4.44.

The A’s also started the evening in last place in their division, but east is east, and west is west. The former is the Lake Woebegone Division, where all teams are above average. The AL West, like the AL Central, is the dwelling place for a team that threatens to end the season with the lowest winning percentage in major league history, and that team is your for the nonce Oakland Athletics. The A’s often play bullpen games, but they’re usually not planned as such; they just occur as the natural outgrowth of poor starts by the regular rotation..

Blackburn, who didn’t come off the injured list until May 28 was 1-1, 4,86 at game time. He struggled in his first time through the lineup but rallied to hold Boston hitless in the third, fourth, and fifth innings before his troubles began resumed in the sixth. He ended up throwing 5-2/3 innings and allowing six runs, all earned, on nine hits, and two walks. He struck out two batters. 64 of his 97 deliveries counted as strikes. He took the loss, and now has a record of 1-2, 5.48)

The Bosox defied The Curse of the Leadoff (Leg) Double when Jarren Duran advanced to third on Alex Verdgo executed a productive ground out and Justin Turner hit a sacrifice fly to Seth Brown in right to start the game.

They defied The Curse again in the second when Seth Brown couldn’t get to Adam Duvalls’ fly in left, perhaps because of the way the shadows were falling on the grass before the lights had taken any effect. Triston Casas drove him in with a clean single to left, and the bay starters had a 2-0 jump on their hosts.

Boston had to wait an out before hitting its third inning two bagger. Verdugo hit it and died on second. They got another to lead off the sixth. It came from Turner’s bat, and it overcame The Curse, putting Boston ahead and ending Blackburn’s work for the evening. Masataka Yoshida followed Turner’s blow with a single that moved him to third.

Adam Duvall’s sac fly to right brought him home. Triston Casas walked. Christian Arroyo walked, and Connor Wong singled, and Yu Cheng hit a run producing ground out to third. That’s when Sam Moll took over for Blackburn and got the final out with Duran’s fly to left..

Moll retired the side in order in the seventh and then yielded to Angel Felipe, who did the same in the eighth. Boston loaded the bases against him in the ninth on a single and two walks On one of them, the third ball hit home plate umpire Emil Jiménez, who earlier had ejected Noda. The injury caused a delay, but Jiménez stayed in the game, and Turner hit into a force out at third that upped the visitors’ advantage to 7-0.

Chris Martin closed the book on the A’s in the ninth, walking one and striking out three.

Kansas City lost to Detroit 3-2. The Royals now are 27-68, .284, still a few steps behind the A’s and their 23-71, .245 in the race to the historical bottom.

The 1899 Cleveland Spiders split their July 17 double header at Baltimore before a gathering of 1,561 fans and finished the day at 13-63., 1.71.

The 1962 Mets were idle on the 17th and treaded water at 29-64, .312.

The A’s and Red Sox will have another go at each other tomorrow, Tuesday, evening at 6:40. Bryan Bello (7-5, 3.14) will face Oakland’s Ken Waldichuk (2-6, 6.66).

Rain suspends Giants-Reds opener in Cincinnati to be continued Tuesday

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The field was covered after an 1 hr 55 min rain delay and suspended on Mon Jul 17, 2023 between the San Francisco Giants and Cincinnati Reds. The contest will continue Tue Jul 18, 2023 at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Monday night the San Francisco Giants (52-41) traveled to Cincinnati to take on the Reds (50-44) on Monday night as hard as both teams tried the game ended up suspended due to rain at Great American Ballpark with the score tied in the eighth inning at 2-2. The Giants are coming off a sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh this past weekend.

Before being called, this was a wild game laced with homers. The Reds took the lead in the first inning Matt McLain homered to right center for the early 1-0 lead.

The Giants tied up the game in the third inning. Austin Slater hit a long ball to center, an absolute blast of 442 ft.

In the sixth inning San Francisco took the lead with yet another home run off the bat of Wilmer Flores. This was a solo 387 ft shot. The Giants now had a 2-1 lead.

In the seventh inning the Reds came back to tie the game 2-2 when Jonathan India knocked the ball out of the part. There had been four home runs between the two teams in this game, all of them solo.

The Giants had it all going in the eighth inning. They had two runners on base. Joc Pederson walked and Wilmer Flores doubled. With one out, J.D. Davis came to the plate and San Francisco was threatening to break the tie. It was then that the skies opened up and thunder and lightning put a stop to the eighth inning.

The game was halted and after one hour and fifty-five minutes the game was officially suspended. The Giants were primed and ready to score some runs and it was a shame that the weather put a glitch in the inning.

This game will be continued at 2:40 PT followed by the regularly scheduled game two. San Francisco will have the two runners on second and third with one out. The Giants will try to break the tie and take this game one before going into game two at 4:10 PM.

 

              

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Owners not too excited on playing A’s in minor league parks

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Las Vegas Ballpark in Las Vegas home of the Las Vegas Aviators triple A minor league team of the Oakland A’s is considered as one of the possible interim homes for the A’s after 2024 while their Tropicana ballpark is under construction (photo by the Las Vegas Review Journal)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, the players are concerned about having to play in the interim in minor league parks whether it be in Reno, Sacramento or Las Vegas.

#2 Another issue about using a minor league park is locker room size, the amenities, the size and atmosphere does not fit Major League standards.

#3 another issue some of the Major League owners don’t want to use a Minor League facility because the gate will be much smaller than a big league park.

#4 The idea has surfaced about using Oracle Park in San Francisco that could go two ways #1 the Giants would say absolutely not they want to the A’s to figure out their own park issues or #2 they could extend a kind gesture since the A’s are leaving are leaving the market anyway and the Giants could get a cut of that gate as well.

#5 What would be strange about a A’s using Oracle Park circumstance and allowed by the Giants. The Giants will not relinquish their territory rights in the South Bay, why would they allow the A’s to their share their park at Oracle.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network on 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburgh and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: 2nd place Giants making a move for first; SF battles Cincinnati at Great American tonight

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San Francisco Giants Michael Conforto slides in ahead of the Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Jason Delay’s tag for the second run in the top of the tenth inning at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on Sun Jul 16, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the Giants podcast with Marko:

#1 The San Francisco Giants (52-41) wrapped up their series with the Pittsburgh Pirates (41-52) winning their fifth straight game in row at PNC Park in Pittsburgh with the win the Giants in second place in the NL West.

#2 Giants manager Gabe Kapler has this team turned around since rookies Casey Schmitt, Patrick Bailey, and Luis Matos have arrived on the scene they’ve seemed to have inspired the club to go on this run and their charging for first place since sweeping the Pittsburgh Pirates over the weekend.

#3 In Sunday’s contest Michael Conforto and Patrick Bailey were part of the Giants hit parade clouting doubles in the tenth inning to help the Giants take the eventual four run win 8-4.

#4 Giants closer in the tenth was Scott Alexander who shut the door on the Pirates going an inning with one hit and one walk. Alexander has done the job in relief for San Francisco so far this year.

#5 The NL West second place Giants head to Cincinnati to face the second place NL Central Reds at Great American Ballpark on Monday at 4:00pm for San Francisco Logan Webb (8-7 ERA 3.14) for Cincinnati Brandon Williamson (1-2 ERA 5.21). Marko talk about the match up between the Giants and the Big Red Machine.

Join Marko Ukalovic for the San Francisco Giants podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: Once again A’s can’t hold onto lead fall to Twins getting swept at Coliseum

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The Oakland A’s Tyler Soderstrom swings for a single in the bottom of the fourth inning against the Minnesota Twins at the Oakland Coliseum on Sun Jul 16, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara:

#1 Barbara lets review the scoring in Sunday’s thriller at the Oakland Coliseum between the Minnesota Twins and Oakland A’s. Second inning the A’s Jordan Diaz hit a 381 foot home run to left field to get the A’s on the scoreboard 1-0.

#2 In the bottom of the fourth the A’s added two more runs with Jordan Diaz’ sacrifice fly to left allowing Zack Gelof to score from third. Aledmys Diaz later doubled to left field scoring JJ Bleday A’s go up 3-0.

#3 In the top of the fifth the Twins get on the scoreboard scoring two runs Christian Vazquez hit a 395 foot home run to left centerfield. The Twins Alex Krilloff belted a homer to center left for 381 feet and it was 3-2 A’s leading by just a run.

#4 Krilloff did more damage with a top of the seventh double that scored three runs and the Twins took a three run lead 5-3.

#5 The A’s picked up another run in the bottom of the seventh when Zack Gelof doubled scoring Shea Langeliers Oakland had cut the lead to just a run 5-4 but it wasn’t enough as they have lost seven in a row and get swept by the Twins.

#6 The Boston Red Sox pay the A’s a visit at the Coliseum to open up a three game series on Monday night. Pitchers for Boston to be announced and for the A’s right hander Paul Blackburn (1-1 ERA 4.86) a 6:40pm PT first pitch at the Coliseum.

Join Barbara for the A’s podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: To Trade of Not to Trade Ohtani? That is the Question

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Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani is the subject of trade rumors as the MLB trade deadline is approaching (AP photo file)

By Amaury Pi-González

This is the toughest and most consequential decision LA Angels owner Arturo Moreno will have to make as the owner of his team, since he bought the club in 2003. His team was playing over .500 until Mike Trout got hurt and now Arturo will have to consider what are his chances to make it to the postseason, with a healthy Ohtani and hopeful that Trout who is rehabbing, quickly returns in time for the team to drive in runs and joins Ohtani.

Let’s say what do you get if you trade the most famous and productive player in the game today? It will never be enough. If you are a real baseball fan you are lucky and privileged to be living during a time when we are witnessing a one-of-a-kind-in-a-century-athlete.

What Shohei Ohtani is doing is like two great players all wrapped-up into one. Ohtani is one of the best hitters and one of the best pitchers in major league baseball through the first half of the 2023 season. Although is premature to say, with some 70 plus games remaining this season, last year’s MVP could be this year’s MVP again.

With 34 home runs the Angels Japanese two-way superstar is leading both leagues in raw power, (on a pace to beat the record established last season in the American League for 62 home runs by Yankee slugger Aaron Judge) Ohtani is third in runs batted in with 72, and also among the best pitchers with the best stuff and number four in strikeouts with 132.

There is no need to compare Ohtani with Babe Ruth, who last played in 1923, that is one hundred years ago. It is fair to say that Ohtani is putting up Babe Ruth numbers, and some even say he is a better player than Ruth. I cannot say that because I never saw Babe Ruth play, and who is alive today to say?

It is impossible to compare one player to the other. We also have to take into consideration that when Babe Ruth played advances in science and nutrition and players training and conditioning were not even remotely close to what they are today Baseball is one of the toughest if not “the toughest” to play among other team sports. In 1982 Ted Williams told the New York Times, “I’ve always said that hitting a baseball is the hardest thing to do in sports.

The hardest thing – a round ball, round bat, curves, sliders, knuckle-balls, upside down and a ball coming in at 90 miles to 100 miles an hour, it’s a pretty lethal thing. What Ted Williams said is just about hitting (as a pure hitter he was the best ever), now add to that pitching.

This is what the scouts say about Ohtani’s pitching; Ohtani is a true five-pitch pitcher, throwing all with accuracy and velocity. A high-fastball that can reach 97, an 83 mph slider and 81 mph change-up, also an effective curve ball he uses to set up his other pitches in batter’s counts.

The question about Ohtani is how long he can keep doing what he is doing. Ohtani’s teammate and best friend with the Angels, Mike Trout recently fractured his left hamate, in other words, he broke his wrist, he will be out at least four weeks and if by then the Angels are not in contention, I believe they will not trade Ohtani, but will end the season with him.

Then, Ohtani will become a free agent and the favorite LA Dodgers will make an effort to sign him to the largest baseball contract in history. The irony here is that Mike Trout signed a 12-year $426.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels in 2019 which included a $20 million signing bonus.

At the time the richest deal in the history of North American sports. Ohtani as a free agent will sign a larger contract that his good friend Mike Trout. Odds-masters and people ‘in the know’ have made the Los Angeles Dodgers the heavy favorites to land Ohtani, they have the financial resources for that mega contract, plus Ohtani, likes Dodger Stadium and Southern California.

For Ohtani we are talking over $600 million multi-year deal. Also, do not count out the Padres, Mets and Yankees to get Othani as a free agent after the season. Finally: I do not think Arturo Moreno will trade the great Japanese star.

He will keep him and see if you can make the postseason, if you do not, and he is a free agent, he is gone. That is my opinion; if you disagree I still respect your opinion. Remember this is only baseball we are not deciding a war here. Wherever he plays, enjoy Ohtani, because we might never see another one like him again for another 100 years.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play announcer on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s drop series finale against the Twins 5-4

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Photo courtesy of Oakland A’s.

By Titus Wilkinson (@TitusWisme)

OAKLAND- The A’s closed out their home series against the Twins on a sour note as they lost by a 5-4 final.

Getting the start for the A’s was J.P. Sears while for the Twins Joe Ryan was on the mound to start.

The first inning went by with no runs scored until the bottom of the second when Jordan Diaz launched a pitch over the left field wall getting his sixth home run and making it a 1-0 game.

The first four innings for Sears couldn’t have gone much better as Sears struck out five hitters.

In the fourth Oakland tacked on another run as with Zack Gelof on third Diaz got him home with a sacrifice fly. Adding to their lead Aledmys Diaz doubled on a line drive to left field that brought home JJ Bleday making it 3-0.

The next inning saw Minnesota start a rally as Christian Vazquez homered to left center field making it 3-1. Not to be outdone Alex Kirilloff followed that up with a home run of his own to a similar spot on the field bringing the A’s lead down to one.

In that same inning Ryan was relieved as the Twins brought in Jorge López in relief. Ryan finished with 5.1 innings pitched, three earned runs, and seven K’s.

The seventh saw the A’s go to the bullpen as Sears was finally relieved by Lucas Erceg. Sears finished with a fantastic line as he pitched 6.1 innings, gave up three earned runs, walked no one and struck out seven.

Erceg would have a less than favorable outing as he gave up a double to Kirilloff that knocked in three runs making it 5-3. He was yanked after giving up the runs and replaced by Shintaro Fujinami who finished out the inning.

The A’s were quick to respond as Gelof doubled in the seventh bringing home one run and making it 5-4.

That was all the runs Oakland could muster as the score finished at 5-4 bringing the Twins record to 48-46 and the A’s record to 25-70.

The A’s next game will be tomorrow where they’ll kick off a three game home series against Boston at 6:40 p.m.

Giants Sweep Pirates With 8-4 Win in Pittsburgh

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Photo credit: post-gazette.com

By: Mary Anne

The San Francisco Giants wrapped up their three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates on a positive note, a sweep on the road — and their fifth win in a row. The Giants defeated the Pirates 8-4 at PNC Park on Sunday.

The Giants improved to 52-41, while the Pirates fell to 41-52. Giants pitcher Ryan Walker picked up the win for a 3-0 record after pitching one inning and giving up one strikeout.

The Giants’ starting lineup featured LaMonte Wade Jr., Joc Pederson, J.D. Davis, Michael Conforto, Mike Yastrzemski, Luis Matos, Blake Sabol, Brandon Crawford, Brett Wisely, and Alex Wood. Wood pitched five innings and gave up one earned run, three walks, and one strikeout.

The Pirates got on the board first in the bottom of the second inning. Bryan Reynolds singled on a soft ground ball to Brandon Crawford. Jared Triolo scored for a 1-0 lead. Jason Delay went to third base, while Connor Joe went to second base.

The Giants took the lead in the top of the third inning. J.D. Davis singled on a line drive to Henry Davis. Brett Wisely and LaMonte Wade Jr. scored for a 2-1 lead. Joc Pederson went to second base as a fielding error was made by Henry Davis. Luis Matos grounded out softly to Nick Gonzales to Osvaldo Bido. Joc Pederson scored for a 3-1 lead. J.D. Davis went to third base, while Mike Yastrzemski went to second base with two outs.

The Pirates tied the game in the bottom of the sixth and eighth innings, respectively. Jared Triolo grounded out to Brandon Crawford to LaMonte Wade Jr. Henry Davis scored to cut the Giants’ lead to 3-2 with one out. Triolo was out on a sacrifice fly to Michael Conforto. Andrew McCutchen scored to tie the game 3-3. Josh Palacios went to third base with one out.

The game went to extra innings.

The Giants poured in the runs in the top of the tenth inning. Joc Pederson was out on a sacrifice fly to Josh Palacios. Casey Schmitt scored for a 4-3 Giants lead with one out. Michael Conforto doubled on a sharp fly ball to Henry Davis. Wilmer Flores and J.D. Davis scored for a 6-3 Giants lead. Patrick Bailey doubled on a sharp fly ball to Josh Palacios. Michael Conforto and Mike Yastrzemski scored for an 8-3 Giants lead.

The Pirates cut the Giants’ lead in half in the bottom of the tenth inning. Henry Davis singled on a ground ball to Luis Matos, deflected by Casey Schmitt. Andrew McCutchen scored to pull the Pirates within four, 8-4, but that’s all she wrote.

The Giants will take on the Cincinnati Reds on Monday at 4:10 pm Pacific.

Oakland Snaps 6 game Winless Streak; Roots Beat Monterey Bay 3-1

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An Oakland Roots player was doing a backflip over the Roots victory over Monterey Bay FC to end their six game winless streak on Sat Jul 15, 2023 (@oaklandrootssc photo)

By Troy Ewers

In a foggy Monterey Bay, the Oakland Roots took on Monterey Bay FC in their third matchup of the season. Both teams have got their wins on the road in this rivalry and this game showed nothing different. What was different was the Roots ended their losing streak with two goal 3-1 win at Cardinale Stadium in Seaside Calif.

The Roots started this game with a goal from Lindo Mfeka that was called back for offsides, but the pressure didn’t stop for Oakland as they earned a penalty shot which was easily converted by Johnny Rodriguez and the score in the 15th minute was 1-0 Roots.

Later in the half in the 29th minute, Monterey Bay would gain the equalizer as Alex Dixon hit a shot from the top of the box to the back of the net and it was now 1-1, but Rodriguez would regain the lead for the Roots quickly with his second goal to obtain a 2-1 lead for Oakland and when the first half ended that was the score.

The second half started with intense pressure from both squads and no one letting their foot off the gas, continuing the pace from the first half. This pressure was taken advantage of by the Roots in the 78th minute as Daniel Gomez scored with an assist from Memo Diaz for the third and final goal for Oakland.

When the final whistle blew the game ended 3-1 Oakland and they got their first win in a month. The Roots hope to continue this feeling of victory as they head to Texas next game and face El Paso on July 22nd.