Month: August 2023

MLB The Show podcast with Charlie O: Verlander defeated in Astro return; Down goes Sox Anderson by Guardians Ramirez punch; plus more

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In the bottom of the sixth inning at Progressive Field in Cleveland the Cleveland Guardian Jose Ramirez (left) gets a right into the head of Chicago White Sox Tim Anderson which knocked Anderson down and the bench clearing brawl was on Sat Aug 5, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the MLB The Show podcast with Charlie O:

#1 The Houston Astros Justin Verlander looked familiar in his Astros uniform but lost his debut return losing Saturday’s game to the New York Yankees 3-1 at Minute Maid Field in Houston. Verlander said after the game he was battling and was all over the place was it butterflies?

#2 The Chicago White Sox Tim Anderson didn’t appreciate the Cleveland Guardians Jose Ramirez sliding under Anderson into second base got up and started boxing with Ramirez after connecting with two glancing punches Ramirez connected with Anderson and knocked him to the ground later Anderson getting up and wanting more. Both benches and bullpens emptied after Anderson and Ramirez were separated White Sox manager Pedro Grifol and Guardian manager Tito Francona started jawing and both players ran back out on the field and the pushing and shoving was in full effect. White Sox outfielder Eloy Jimenez was injured in the brawl and hopped off the field with an injured foot. Suspensions are expected to be meted out by MLB. Ramirez and Cleveland players complained of Anderson tagging runners harder than necessary and agitating the eventual fight.

#3 Charlie the New York Mets fans at Citi Park in Flushing aren’t exactly chanting “Sell the team” but they are very disappointed with Mets owner Steve Cohen’s moves dealing away pitchers David Robertson to the Miami Marlins, Max Scherzer to the Texas Rangers and Justin Verlander to Houston. Season ticket holders have been complaining with trades and Cohen promised next year to be competitive and formidable for 2024.

#4 Charlie, wanted to get your take on Yankees starter Domingo Herman was under the influence in the Yankees clubhouse after Thu Aug 3 game at Yankee Stadium after a 4-3 win over the Houston Astros. Herman according to witnesses was out of control and had to be calmed by his fellow teammates. Herman turned over a coach and smashed a TV set in the clubhouse. Herman is on the restriction list and suspended for the rest of the season and is in rehabilitation.

#5 The only two things left that will determine the fate of the Oakland A’s future in Oakland is the owners voted which is expected to be held after the A’s submit the relocation application and renderings just before Thanksgiving well after the World Series is over and the owners will take the relocation vote in December. Second the organization Stadiums over Schools needs to have enough signatures in four Nevada districts to put the measure on the ballot to stop the spending of $380 million in public funds for the Tropicana ballpark and use that money for education in the state. Can either stop the A’s from moving to Las Vegas?

Join Charlie O for the MLB podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants Lose to A’s 2-1 in Game One of Battle of the Bay II, in front of Large Protesting Crowd

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Oakland A’s and San Francisco Giants shared one thing in common on Sat Aug 5, 2023 there distaste for the A’s moving to Las Vegas which brought them together for another Reverse Boycott game at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat Aug 5, 2023 (photo from San Francisco Chronicle)

By Michael Roberson

OAKLAND, Calif. — The San Francisco Giants (61-50) did not win their third straight game of the Bay Bridge Series versus the Oakland Athletics (31-80), as the Green & Gold somewhat pleased the raucous 37k+ fed up East Bay fans.

After 4 1/2 scoreless innings, the Athletics finally gave the jeering fans something to cheer for in their half of the fifth stanza.

The mostly Alameda County faithful repeatedly chanted, “Sell the Team!” A gesture-also T-Shirts-aimed at Oakland’s ownership, and apparent move to Las Vegas, which would reunite them with their former stadium mate Raiders.

This was Oakland’s largest crowd of the season ironically surpassing their last reverse boycott game that had a season high of 27,000 plus on June 13th. Sat Aug 5th’s crowd was 37,553 for the A’s fans second reverse boycott.

Third baseman Jordan Diaz knocked a solo blast over the left field wall, giving the home team the first tally of the contest.

The Giants responded in the top of the seventh when left fielder Joc Peterson hit a deep center sacrifice fly, scoring second baseman Thairo Estrada and tying the game 1-1.

Oakland had something to say about the outcome in the bottom of the eighth inning, when Seth Brown singled to right field, scoring the eventual run on the feet of Aledmys Diaz.

However, there was controversy on that same play as Tony Kemp also tried to score on the hit, but was tagged out at home. The issue became a question of did the catcher block the plate illegally?

Kemp was called out on the play, which became irrelevant because the previous run was enough to win the ballgame and give the disgruntled masses something to be happy about on a beautiful day in the Town. 2-1 A’s!

The same two Bay Area sluggers face each other Sunday Afternoon (1:07 PDT) August 6, at the Coliseum. Expected starting pitchers: Oakland’s RHP Luis Medina (3-8, 5.35) and Giants’ RHP Alex Cobb (6-3, 3.05)

Oakland A’s game wrap: Brown’s 8th inning single paces A’s past Giants 2-1 to open Bay Bridge Series at Coliseum

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Oakland A’s Jordan Diaz (13) gives thanks to the good Lord after clouting his eighth home run of the year at the Oakland Coliseum against the San Francisco Giants on Sat Aug 5, 2023 (AP News photo)

San Francisco (61-50) 000 000 010. – 1. 3. 0

Oakland (31-80). 000 010 01x. – 2. 6. 1

Time: 2:34.

Attendance: 37,553

Saturday, August 5, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–Saturday was a reverse boycott day, and the action was almost as much in parking lot B and the right field bleachers as it was on the field. There were Sell THE TEAM rally towels in the former, and chants, cheers, and shouts in the latter.

In other off field action, the A’s announced that they had designated Ramón Laureano for assignment and optioned Tayler Scott to the Las Vegas Aviators. The Athletics also reinstated Dany Jiménez and Esteury Ruíz from the injured list.

They also reinstated the injured Kevin Smith, only to option him to Vegas. They outrighted Tyler Wade there and released Manny Piña. Sic transit gloria mundi. On the field of play, the A’s defeated the visiting Giants, 2-1, in a stunning and thrilling nail biter.

Oakland sent what passes for its ace to the mound. Perhaps it’s unfair of me to qualifyPaul Blackburn that way. He came off the injured list on May 29, so you can say that he’s about two months behind where he’d be if he’d been healthy all season. Throw the Athletics’s weak hitting and poor fielding into the mix, and his numbers look somewhat better, but his 2-2, 4.83 game time record was not one to inspire confidence.

At the Coliseum, “confidence” is an adjective that modifies “game” when describing what the ownership has been doing in cahoots with the cardsharps of southern Nevada to the city of Oakland and the county of Alameda.

Blackburn, who went 7-6,4.28 last season, performed well, if not economically today. It took him 78 pitches to get through his first four innings, 26 in the fourth alone. but he shut the Giants out on two hits over that span. At the end of his tenure, he had thrown six scoreless innings and allowed but two hits and three walks while striking out seven.

He had to settle for a no decision. making his record 2-2 ,4.35. His pitch count was 105, 63 of them strikes. Austin Pruitt took over for. him to pitch a scoreless seventh before giving away to Angel Felipe, who pitched to three men in eighth, leaving with runners on the corners and one out. Trevor May was his replacement and retired the two men he faced but not before the Giants had tied the score.

The Giants’ starter, Ross Stripling, also has had problems with injuries this year. San Francisco’s been allowing him to build up his arm strength since his return from the IL June 25 and has enough confidence to entrust a traditional start to the ex-Dodger hurler, who entered the day with a balance sheet of 0-4, 5.52.

He definitely is not the ace of the Giants’ staff; that honor goes to one of the Cobb-Webb combo. The afternoon, Stripling also started out strong, keeping Oakland off the board during four frames, helped out by a spiffy backhanded stab and throw by Brandon Crawford in the third and a spectacular leaping catch at the NBC Sports advertisement jut to the right of the 388 foot sign in center in the fourth.

Stripling ended his day’s work after pitching another inning and a third and allowing a total of one run on three hits (a home run) and no walks. He struck out seven, Of his 74 pitches, 52 were strikes. He escaped with a no decision, and his record now stands at 0-4, 5.21. Sean Manaea relieved him, facing his old teammates and shutting them down on one hit in 1-2/3 innings.

The A’s finally broke the scoreless tie in their half of the fifth with a leadoff home run to left center by Jordan Díaz, his eighth round tripper of the year. It came off an 83.6 mph change up and travelled 402 feet, with an exit velocity of 106.8 mph. The Giants tied things up in the eighth with a walk to Thairo Estrada and a single by Flores, followed, after May relieved Felipe by Joc Pederson’s sac fly to left.

Ryan Walker replaced Manaea for the home eighth. He faced two pinch hitters, Aledmys Díaz, who singled to center, and Tony Kemp, who drew a base on balls, before Esteury Ruíz attempted a sacrifice bunt. Home plate umpire Dan Menzel called it a foul.

The A’s protested that he was hit by the pitch. A replay review ruled that it was, indeed, a foul. (That’s how it looked to me, too). Ruíz attempted another bunt. JD Davis came charging in from third, nabbed the bunt in the air and threw to first to retire Ruíz.

Kemp moved on to second. That’s when Scott Alexander replaced Walker. And that’s when Jonah Bride pinch hit for Bleday and lined out to second. Alexander conceded a walk to Gelof, loading the bases. Seth Brown singled to right, bringing Díaz home with the go-ahead run, but Michael Conforto’s throw home beat Kemp by a mile. The A’s claimed that Bailey had block the plate, but a video review disproved that.

Now May had to get three outs to preserve the Athletics’ precarious lead. He retired Conforto, Bailey, and Crawford, thereby earning the win. He’s now 3-4, 4.30.

Walker, now 4-1, 2.,56 took the loss.

With today’s win , the A’s improved their record to 31-80, .279. Kansas City lost to the Phillies, 9-6, I Philadelphia, falling to 36-76, .321. W 37-75, .330

The 1899 Cleveland Spiders, all time leaders in futility with their record of 20-134, .130, were shut out by the Chicago Orphans, 4-0, at West Side Park in the Windy City. That dropped the Spiders to 16-79, .168.

The 1962 New York Mets, whose mark of 40-120, .250 is the worst seen in the majors since 1901, split a double header against the Reds in Crosley Field on August 5, leaving the Amazin’s at 29-80, .266.

The 2023 Battle of the Bay concludes Sunday with San Francisco’s Alex Cobb (6-3, 3.05) dueling Oakland’s Luis Medina (3-8, 5.35) first pitch 1:07pm PT. Before the game, the Athletics will induct the 2023 cohort into their Hall of Fame. The honorees are Jason Giambi, Carney Lansford, Gene Tenace, Bob Johnson (from the A’s Philadelphia days), and former A’s PA announcer Roy Steele.

San Francisco Giants game wrap: Giants can’t move past A’s in 2-1 one run loss at Coliseum

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San Francisco Giants center fielder Luis Matos makes a great grab in the webbing of his glove on Oakland A’s hitter Seth Brown at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat Aug 5, 2023 (AP News photo)

Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

Oakland, California

San Francisco Giants 1 (61-50)

Oakland Athletics 2 (31-80)

Win: Trevor May (3-4)

Loss: Ryan Walker (4-1)

Time: 2:34

Attendance: 37,553

By Stephen Ruderman

OAKLAND–Fans packed into the Coliseum for the Giants and A’s first game in Oakland since the A’s announced their intent to move to Las Vegas, as Giants and A’s fans saw the A’s edge out the Giants 2-1 in the series opener on a cloudless afternoon at the Oakland Coliseum.

The Giants made solid contact off A’s starter, Paul Blackburn, in the top of first inning, as LaMonte Wade, whose home run accounted for the Giants’ lone run on Thursday, hit a high fly ball just foul down the right-field line before lining out to the A’s right-fielder Seth Brown.

Thairo Estrada, coming off the injured list and taking his first at-bat since July 2, also lined out to right. Wilmer Flores then singled to left, but that was all the Giants were able to show for it.

The Giants were gifted an opportunity in the top of the second when J.D. Davis reached on catcher’s interference to start the inning and got to second on a one-out walk to Patrick Bailey, but they were unable to get the hit to knock in Davis.

Ross Stripling, whose last outing came on July 30 in a bullpen game against the Red Sox, made the start, and he did not disappoint. Esteury Ruiz led off the bottom of the first with a single to left, but Stripling then set down the next 12 men he faced.

The Giants had runners reach in the third, fourth and fifth innings as well, but they had nothing to show for it. Just like in the Giants’ 1-0 win over the Diamondbacks on Thursday, their offense remained neutralized throughout the game.

Jordan Diaz then led off the bottom of the fifth with a home run to left-center to put the A’s on the board. Blackburn followed that up with his first and only 1-2-3 inning in the top of the sixth, and Stripling and Sean Manaea combined to throw a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the sixth.

The A’s brought in Austin Pruitt for the top of the seventh. Patrick Bailey led off the inning with a walk, which brought Brandon Crawford to the plate. Crawford hit a fly ball to left that seemed like it was going to fall in, but A’s left-fielder, JJ Bleday, made a sliding catch, and then got up to throw a strike to double up Bailey off first.

Manaea threw a scoreless bottom of the seventh, and Angel Felipe came in for the A’s in the eighth. LaMonte Wade struck out looking to start the inning, but Thairo Estrada then walked, and got to third on a base-hit by Wilmer Flores.

The Giants had runners at the corners with one out for Joc Pederson, as the A’s brought in their closer, Trevor May, to go for a five-out save, and Pederson hit a sacrifice fly to Esteury Ruiz to put the Giants on the board and tie the game.

It was 1-1 going to the bottom of the eighth, as Gabe Kapler brought in Ryan Walker. Mark Kotsay pinch-hit Aledmys Diaz for Tyler Soderstrom, and Diaz led off the inning with a base-hit up the middle. Tony Kemp walked to put runners at first and second for the A’s with nobody out, and Ruiz then bunted a foul ball off the home plate umpire, Dan Merzel, who went down, but remained in the game.

To add insult to injury, Kotsay challenged the play to see if the ball hit Ruiz, and after the call was upheld, Kotsay went out to argue with the third-base umpire and crew chief, Lance Barksdale, who surprisingly did not throw Kotsay out of the game. Ruiz was then able to successfully bunt the runners over to second and third.

Kapler then brought in the left-hander, Scott Alexander. Kotsay countered by pinch-hitting Jonah Bride, who lined out to Thairo Estrada at second for the second out.

Kapler elected to intentionally walk Zack Gelof to load the bases for Seth Brown, who singled to right to knock in Diaz and put the A’s back ahead. Kemp also tried to score on the play, but he was thrown out at the plate on a perfect strike from Michael Conforto to end the inning. Kemp tried to barrel past Patrick Bailey, but he was tagged out.

Trevor May came back out for the top of the ninth, and threw a 1-2-3 inning, as he got Brandon Crawford to ground out to second to end the game.

The Giants fall to 61-50, and they will try and salvage a split tomorrow afternoon with Alex Cobb on the mound.

Meanwhile in the stands, Giants and A’s fans stood in unison, and chanted “SELL THE TEAM,” following 30 seconds of silence to start the top of the fifth. Despite the fifth inning chants not being as loud as chants in prior games, they chanted even louder during the replay review in the bottom of the eighth, as fans continued to make it clear that the A’s belong in Oakland.

Starters for Sunday for the Giants right hander Alex Cobb (6-3 ERA 3.05) and for the A’s right hander Luis Medina (3-8 ERA 5.35) first pitch is slated at 1:07pm PT at the Oakland Coliseum.

Pac 12 podcast with Michael Roberson: With teams leaving will Pac 12 dissolve and disband?

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The Pac-12 logo is shown at Sun Devil Stadium during the second half of an NCAA college football game between Arizona State and Kent State in Tempe, Ariz., Aug. 29, 2019. (AP file photo)

On the Pac 12 podcast with Michael Roberson:

#1 Michael, talk about the big announcement last Thursday regarding the Colorado Buffaloes leaving the Pac 12 this being the third team now to leave with USC and UCLA how will that impact the league.

#2 Now with three teams departing the Pac 12 do you see the Pac 12 getting the opportunity to add some teams or could they end up disbanding?

#3 The Pac 12 ironically has won more championships than any other league but now the league has lots questions about it’s future.

#4 The Pac 12 has problems with their TV contract regarding it’s media rights contract did that play into the three teams departures knowing that they can’t stay profitable.

#5 Talk about the team you cover the Cal Bears how this all plays out loosing such opponents such as USC, UCLA, and Colorado.

Join Michael Roberson for the Pac 12 podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Ohtani on pace to be the GOAT; Nadel back behind the mic in Texas; plus more MLB news

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Shohei Ohtani gets congratulated for hitting his 40th home run in the Los Angeles Angels dugout. Ohtani has been putting up Hall of Fame type numbers pitching and hitting (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The Los Angeles Angels Shohei Ohtani leads the majors with 40 home runs and has a 9-5 ERA 3.32 pitching record. Like you mentioned last week he had hit two home runs in a game and the next night he went out and pitched a one hitter.

#2 Some question can Ohtani be as good as Babe Ruth it’s too early to answer Ruth was 94-46 as a pitcher and had 714 home runs as a hitter, Ohtani whose doing both at the same time career he is 37-19 and has 167 career home runs. Can he catch Ruth?

#3 Eric Nadel who is in the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame and the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame and is the Rangers broadcaster missed the first 109 games of the season due to mental illness. Nadel was suffering from depression, anxiety and insomnia. Nadel has been calling Rangers games for 44 years since 1979.

#4 Domingo Herman has been suspended for the rest of the season by the New York Yankees. The starting pitcher flipped over a couch in the Yankees locker room and smashed a TV set on Thursday. Teammates tried to calm him down. Herman was reportedly under the influence of alcohol and had a verbal argument with manager Aaron Boone. Herman will be seeking treatment for his substance abuse. Herman was suspended in 2020 for domestic violence on his girlfriend when he slapped her at a charity event in front of his teammates.

#5 Amaury, Detroit Tigers pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez said that he refused to be traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers who are a first place team in the NL West at the trade deadline last Tuesday. Rodriguez refused to come west because Detroit is where his family is and it wasn’t anything against the Dodgers or playing in the west. Rodriguez said he’s happy being in Detroit even though they have a losing record at 48-60. Rodriguez a left hander is 7-5 ERA 2.96.

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

San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Wade provides offense for Giants; Giants-A’s open Bay Bridge series tonight

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San Francisco Giants’ LaMonte Wade Jr., right, celebrates with Joc Pederson, left, after hitting a solo home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fourth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Thu Aug 3, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen:

#1 Stephen you got to hand it to Giants LaMonte Wade Jr who came through with the only run of the game Thursday against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the bottom of the fourth inning.

#2 The Giants also got some great pitching from the opener Scott Alexander and five other pitchers that followed him.

#3 The Giants second pitcher on Thursday Tristan Beck went the longest with four innings of work giving up just two hits and three strikeouts.

#4 Giants manager Gabe Kapler really worked his pitching staff outside of Beck he had Alexander and four other pitchers go less than two innings and the Giants pulled off a shutoff.

#5 Diamondbacks starter Brandon Pfraadt pitched a fine game but lost going seven innings, two hits, one earned run, and seven strikeouts. Pfraadt pitched good enough to win but didn’t get the run support.

#6 Giants and A’s battle here at the Oakland Coliseum tonight for a brief two game series in another Reverse Boycott contest where A’s fans invited Giants fans to chant “Sell the Team” in efforts to stop the move of the Oakland A’s to Las Vegas is this message getting through to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred or is it getting lost in the preparation of the relocation vote coming in November?

Join Stephen for the Giants or MLB podcasts Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Daniel Dullum: Dodgers offense too much for A’s; Oakland returns home to host San Francisco Saturday

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The Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Amed Rosario (31) completes the double play on this throw as the Oakland A’s Ramon Laureano slides in too late in the top of the first inning at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Thu Aug 3, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Daniel:

#1 The Los Angeles Dodgers Freddie Freeman was seeing the ball well against the Oakland A’s on Thursday night at Dodger Stadium getting three hits, Freeman is second in the big leagues with a .341 batting average.

#2 Freeman who hit two doubles now leads the majors with 40 doubles. Freeman in his last at bat in the bottom of the eighth slugged a solo homer his 22nd of the year. A’s pitching just couldn’t shut him down.

#3 Freeman provided much of the offense in the Dodgers win against the A’s 8-3 Thursday night and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Freeman has a calmness about him and he’s playing MVP caliber baseball whether he’s hitting it the opposite way or against a left handed pitcher.

#4 The A’s became the first club since 1960 to drop it’s first 80 games in 110 games since the 2003 Detroit Tigers and 1962 New York Mets had 29-81 records. The A’s came away with a 30-80 record after losing to the Dodgers on Thursday night.

#5 Daniel the A’s return back to Oakland Saturday night for a 4pm PT first pitch against the San Francisco Giants neither team has announced a starter. It will be another reverse boycott game and the fans are expected to be as boisterous as ever with both Giants and A’s fans are expected to find common ground in chanting “Sell the team” a drive to save the A’s from moving from Oakland to Las Vegas.

Daniel Dullum was filling in for Jeremiah Salmonson who does the A’s podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Daniel Dullum: A’s relocation almost as controversial as Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants was

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Oakland A’s fans voiced their opinion back on Jun 13, 2023 photo regarding a reverse boycott at the Oakland Coliseum. Fans in Colorado and Los Angeles have joined in the sell the team chant when the A’s have been on the road. A’s fans plan to have a joint reverse boycott at the Coliseum this Sat Aug 5, 2023 with San Francisco Giants fans (AP file photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Daniel:

#1 Daniel, talk about the MLB fans now getting behind the movement to try and get John Fisher to sell the Oakland A’s by the “Sell the team” chants. It happened on this last road trip for the A’s in Colorado and in Los Angeles.

#2 Daniel, talk about some of the owners who are not to favorable to relocation and in the A’s case this has to be the biggest protest against a team relocating since the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants coming out west.

#3 Some owners and sources mentioned New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner is not too excited about moving a storied team like the A’s to Vegas and playing in a much smaller park in the smallest TV market.

#4 Daniel, a Bally’s executive said there is not a lot of room for error in the design and roofing of the Tropicana ballpark. The A’s have consulted with competing architects who are vying to design a final rendering for the new Vegas ballpark.

#5 Bally’s and the Tropicana said Thursday that everything is on hold until the MLB owners take the relocation vote in November. Although the feeling from Bally’s seems 85% certain that the owners will vote in favor of the new park but their not taking any chances just yet.

Join Daniel for the Oakland A’s podcast heard Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s preview: Oakland Heads Into Two-Game Series With San Francisco at Coliseum

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Paul Blackburn will get the call for the Oakland A’s against the San Francisco Giants at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat Aug 5, 2023. (San Jose Mercury News file photo)

Oakland Heads Into Two-Game Series With San Francisco

By Barbara Mason

Friday the Oakland A’s had an off day, taking a little time to reflect on their last series as well as looking forward to their upcoming series.

Oakland just got swept by the first place Los Angeles Doders in their last series. The A’s did make a bit of a run in game one of the series with the Dodgers but fell short getting clobbered in games two and three. Their offense just wasn’t enough. It was a very disappointing series for the team and it does not get any easier for Oakland this weekend.

Saturday and Sunday the A’s take on the rival San Francisco Giants in a two- game series over the weekend. The Texas Rangers will come into town for a three game series on Monday so some challenging times ahead for Oakland. The good news for the A’s is that they will be at home for these two series and once again their fans will continue to protest with no plans to stop. Their message will keep on resonating across the nation.

Saturday Paul Blackburn will take the mound for Oakland. Blackburn has a 2-2 W/L record and an 4.83 ERA. The Giants will send Ross Stripling to start. Stripling is struggling with a 0-4 Win/Loss record and a 5.52 ERA. We have seen this team rise to the occasion against some of the best teams in the league. They will need some of that magic if they hope to succeed in any of these upcoming games. The home crowd will no doubt lift them up and provide some real encouragement as they take on these power house teams.

First pitch in Oakland on Saturday is scheduled for 4:07 PM. So come on out and proudly wear your “SELL” tee’s. Tickets are going fast. Less than 4% of total tickets in the venue are available. It is for sure going to be a great time out for both A’s and Giants fans.