Month: September 2023

Giants get handled by Cubs again 8-2; SF gets swept in Windy City

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By Mary Anne

San Francisco Giants right fielder Mitch Haniger (17) chases down a 3-run double hit by Chicago Cubs’ Seika Suzuki during the first inning at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Thu Sep 6, 2023 (AP News photo)

The San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs played their series finale on Wednesday. The Giants lost 8-2 to the Cubs at Wrigley Field. San Francisco fell to 70-70, while Chicago improved to 76-64.

The Cubs got on the board first. Seiya Suzuki doubled on a sharp line drive to Mitch Haniger. Nico Hoerner, Ian Happ, and Dansby Swanson scored for a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.

The Cubs extended their lead in the bottom of the third inning. Cody Bellinger doubled on a line drive to Mitch Haniger. Ian Happ scored for a 4-0 lead. Nick Madrigal singled on a line drive to Austin Slater. Bellinger scored for a 5-0 lead as Dansby Swanson went to third base.

The Cubs added a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Miguel Amaya homered on a fly ball to left center field for a 6-0 lead.

The Cubs extended their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Christopher Morel singled on a sharp line drive to Luis Matos. Mike Tauchman scored for a commanding 7-0 lead.

The Giants finally got on the board in the top of the seventh inning. Casey Schmitt doubled on a line drive to Mike Tauchman. Luis Matos scored to reduce the Cubs’ lead to 7-1. Joey Bart was out in a sacrifice fly to Mike Tauchman. Casey Schmitt scored to cut the Cubs’ lead to 7-2 with two outs.

The Cubs wrapped up the scoring in the bottom of the seventh inning. Cody Bellinger homered on a fly ball to right field for an 8-2 lead.

Notes: The Giants recalled Joey Bart and Luis Matos from Triple-A Sacramento. Wade Meckler was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento. Patrick Bailey was placed on the 7-day injured list.

Up Next: The Giants will return home to host the Colorado Rockies on Friday at 7:15 pm Pacific. Kyle Harrison (1-1, 4.70 ERA) will start for the Giants. The Rockies’ starting pitcher is TBD.

A’s down Blue Jays 5-2; Oakland avoids getting swept by Toronto

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Oakland Athletics’ Kevin Smith hits a three-run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the sixth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Thu Sep 6, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

Oakland- The Oakland A’s beat the Toronto Blue Jays Wednesday afternoon 5-2 to avoid being swept by the Jays. The A’s starter, JP Sears, earned his fourth win of the year. It took work to defeat a very good Blue Jay team. The Jays are in contention to make the playoffs in the American League.

Their starter, lefty Hyan Jin Ryu, baffled the A’s for the game’s first four innings. Ryu used various low curves, changeups, cutters, and four-seam fastballs to keep the A’s offense off balance. The curves came in around 62 miles per hour, and the changeups were in the 70 miles per hour category, the cutters in the eighties, and his fastball was timed at 91 miles per hour.

Also a lefty, Sears held the powerful Blue Jay lineup to four hits and one run in five innings. Sears made it through the Jays’ lineup three times and allowed only one run.

Toronto scored the first run of the game in the top of the second. Jays’ right-fielder Cavan Biggio led off the inning with a double. Sears retired Santiago Espinal for the first out. Shortstop Ernie Clement singled to drive in Biggio. Clement went to second on the throw to the plate. Sears was able to get out of the inning without any further damage. The Jays lead 1-0 midway through the second.

The A’s took the lead in the bottom of the fourth. A’s left-fielder Brent Rooker led off with a double. Rooker was thrown out at third, attempting to advance on Ryan Noda’s grounder to first. Jay’s first baseman, Vladamir Guerrero, Jr.’s throw to third nailed Rooker for the first out.

Rya retired Jordan Diaz for the second out. A’s catcher Carlos Ruiz sent Ryu’s 90 mph four-seam fastball into the seats near the foul pole in left field. The A’s lead 2-1 after four.

The A’s put three runs on the board in the bottom of the seventh. Trevor Richards was now pitching for Toronto. The first two hitters Richards faced, Jordan Diaz and Carlos Perez, singled. A’s third baseman homered for the fifth time this season to give the A’a a 5-1 lead after six.

With one out in the top of the eighth, Toronto’s second baseman Davis Schneider homered to make it a 5-2 game. A’s reliever Dany Jimenez regained his composure and retired the next two Toronto hitters to end the inning.

The A’s closer, Trevor May, held the Jays scoreless in the ninth to preserve the win for JP Sears. The A’s win 5-2.

Game Notes- With the win, the A’s improved to 43-97. The A’s are now 9-7 in their last sixteen games and are showing signs of improvement. The A’s finished the six-game homestand with a record of 4-2. The Blue Jays fall to 77-63.

The hitting stars for Oakland were catcher Carlos Perez and Kevin Smith. Perez’s two-run blast in the fourth gave the A’s the lead. Smith’s three-run Earl Weaver special in the sixth gave the A’s an unsurmountable advantage.

Mark Kotsay used four relievers Wednesday afternoon. Mason Miller returned to action after a long layoff on the IL. Miller pitched two innings and did not allow a hit. Dany Jimenez pitched the eighth and gave up a solo home run to Toronto’s Davis Schneider. Trevor May earned his 18th save of the year with a scoreless ninth inning.

The A’s are off on Thursday. Oakland will face the Rangers on Friday in Arlington, Texas. Paul Blackburn (4-4 ERA 3.81) will be on the mound, hoping to win his fifth of the year. The Rangers have yet to announce their starter.

The time of the game was two hours and nineteen minutes. There were 3,871 fans in attendance.

Oakland A’s report: Schools over Stadiums files petition to get initiative on ballot to stop public funding for A’s Vegas ballpark

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Rendering of the Las Vegas Tropicana Hotel and Casino ballpark. If successful the ballpark is expected to be completed by 2028 upon the approval vote of MLB owners in Dec 2023. Schools over Stadiums is attempting to put a measure on the ballot stopping public funding of the Vegas ballpark that vote could take place in Nov 2024. (rendering from the Oakland A’s)

By Jerry Feitelberg

Schools over Stadium a group who is working with the Nevada State Education Association filed a referendum petition to get a measure on the ballot that would prevent public funds to pay for a new A’s ballpark at the Tropicana hotel and casino on the Las Vegas strip.

Dawn Etcheverry who is president of the NSEA and Schools over Stadiums and is a music teacher said that the organization is committed to pursue every possible path to stop the use of public funds to subsidize a new ballpark for owner John Fisher and the Oakland A’s.

Etcheverry raised the point that the people of Nevada did not have a say in the process during the Nevada State Legislature special session on public funds use for the ballpark. Etcheverry said that the priorities to use public funding for a stadium over schools and education in the state are misguided and that Nevada is 48th in the state on education should be priority for public funding rather than spending those funds on the Tropicana ballpark.

Etcheverry stated that the funds should go to Nevadans who depend on that money to go to public schools rather than the ballpark. Etcheverry pointed out that the 82nd Legislative session overlooked the overcrowding in classrooms in the state of Nevada, the lack of teachers, and the state has ignored streams of incomes for schools and public education.

If there are enough signatures on the petitions from the four Nevada districts which includes Clark County where the A’s plan to build at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas strip. The measure will be placed on the ballot and if the voters say no to public spending for the A’s new ballpark the A’s move to Las Vegas could be dead unless Fisher can find $380 million in private money for the Vegas ballpark.

Jerry Feitelberg is an Oakland A’s reporter for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s commentary: What John Fisher Can Learn From San Jose Teams

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Oakland A’s owner John Fisher sitting in the Oakland A’s dugout is the subject of today’s feature Oakland A’s commentary (NBC Bay Area file photo)

Wednesday, September 6th, 2023

By Troy Ewers

OAKLAND– With the end of the MLB season coming at the end of the month and the Oakland A’s two losses away from clinching their second consecutive last place finish in the AL West, the cloud looming over the A’s organization is the threat of leaving Oakland California.

The 2023 season was the year of the boycott. The year of “SELL THE TEAM” chants not just filling the Coliseum, but Oracle Park, the All Star Game in Seattle, and even areas outside of baseball, the boycott was the most talked about thing in Major League Baseball.

The change of location stems from no renovation to the current Coliseum or a new ballpark, but after the stubbornness of owner John Fisher, the negotiations of relocation became the norm starting in 2021. After two years of meetings and talks, Las Vegas became the nominee after Nevada approved a potential $380 million funding deal and the club submitting its relocation paperwork in August of 2023. 

At this point in the conversation, if everything is approved, the new stadium would be completed in Vegas for the 2027 season with Oakland most likely playing the three transition years in either Reno or Sacramento, but in the grand scheme of things, Oakland moving says John Fisher didn’t learn from other Bay Area entities.

Over the past weekend, San Jose State football had their first home game of the season in their newly renovated stadium with new facilities. Building these facilities and having their first game sell out with approximately 22,000 people, a number the A’s would love to have averaged this season, SJSU has the ability to attract big recruits, which will give them a better chance to win games, which in theory can bring more money to the school and an area of San Jose.

The San Jose Earthquakes opened their $100 million stadium that fits 18,000 in 2015 and even with an average team, the stadium is an attraction in the city (they just need better parking). These new facilities in San Jose aren’t just money makers for the organizations, but they make the area they’re in an attraction.

A sign at one of the A’s games said “Fisher should learn from the Quakes” and that sign may go on deaf ears, but it is the sad realization of where we are in this Oakland/Vegas location conversation, all that needed to be done was to build something new. 

In one of the most famous baseball movies ever, Field of Dreams, the most famous quote from the film is “if you build it they will come”, this quote contextually explains that if you build a baseball field, even in the middle of a corn field, people will show up to watch them play baseball.

In a city that lost the football team that was a cultural representation of the city, then lost the best basketball team of the last decade, and is experiencing a poverty problem that is reminiscent of Detroit after the 70’s, to lose a baseball team with such history would devastate the city to possibly irreversible magnitudes, especially if it’s announced after the season. 

Troy Ewers is a beat reporter for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor: Steelers coach Tomlin gives 49ers coach Shanahan credit on quarterbacks

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is made a better quarterback thanks to 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan says Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. (AP News photo)

#1 Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin says of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy that it’s really about how 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan uses him and what game plan he will execute against the Steelers defensive line.

#2 Coach Tomlin is not saying Purdy isn’t anything special but coach Shanahan has a way of making his quarterbacks look better than what they were before he got them.

#3 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa’s hold out as of last night was up to 41 days and with the 49ers opener on Sunday in Pittsburgh the 49ers are trying to get him signed and in Pittsburgh for the season opener.

Join David Zizmor for 49ers podcasts Wednesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s Lose 7-1 to Blue Jays; Toronto six run 7th Inning Rally does in Oakland

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Oakland A’s first baseman Ryan Noda (49) tried to make a catch in foul ground in front of the Toronto Blue Jays dugout and is braced by the Blue Jays Kevin Kiermaier (right) on a ball that was hit by the Blue Jays Ernie Clement at the Oakland Coliseum on Tue Sep 5, 2023 (AP News photo)

Tuesday, September 5th, 2023

By Troy Ewers 

Oakland. CA – On Rickey Henderson Field in the Oakland Coliseum, the Oakland A’s face the Toronto Blue Jays for the second game of a three game series. The A’s had a three game winning streak snapped in Monday’s game with a loss to Toronto 6-5, tying the fifth most losses in A’s history. On the mound for the A’s this game was Ken Waldichuk and Chris Bassitt for the Jays.  The Jays had a six run seventh inning rally on Tuesday night for a 7-1 win.

The first four innings started off scoreless with both teams even at three hits, but both pitchers dealing and having a total of eight strikeouts (three for Waldichuk and five for Bassitt). In the fifth inning the season tradition of fans chanting “sell the team” began with all 4,751 people both Oakland and Toronto fans, engaging in the chant. 

In the sixth inning a rally by Toronto started with a Davis Schneider walk and then a Vlad Jr. single, which extended his on base streak to 21 games, but the rally was halted when Whit Merrifield grounded into a double play, continuing the scoreless game. 

The A’s changed pitchers in the seventh to give Waldichuk a break and they brought in Zach Neal. Waldichuk went six innings, allowing four hits, walking, and striking out three batters. Zach Neal wasn’t in the game long at all, walking three out of the four batters he faced and striking out the one he didn’t walk and he was replaced after 19 pitches and bases loaded.

Sam Long came to replace Neal and Toronto’s Kevin Kiermaier hit a single to end this scoreless war of attrition, scoring Alejandro Kirk, 1-0 Blue Jays. This opened the floodgates and the rally began for Toronto. George Springer followed up with two runs when he hit a single that scored Cavan Biggio and Santiago Espinal, 3-0 Blue Jays.

The avalanche didn’t stop as Davis Schneider hit a double that scored Springer, making it 4-0. Right after that and a Guerrero Jr. intentional walk, Whit Merrifield hit a sac fly that scored Springer and finally with two outs, the score was 5-0 Blue Jays.

Kirk who started the inning was back at the plate and walked again, and the same result for Biggio, but when he was walked, it scored another run and after a fly out from Horwitz, the devastating inning for Oakland was finally over, but the damage was done, 6-0 Toronto. 

The A’s weren’t going to go out quietly as with two outs and Seth Brown on second, Jordan Diaz hit a single and scored Brown to finally get Oakland on the board, 6-1. The eighth inning started with Toronto right back on the head of the A’s when Springer hit an RBI single that scored Kiermaier, 7-1 Blue Jays.

The ninth was the last hope to comeback from six runs for Oakland and Toronto closer Bowden Francis struck out the side and the Blue Jays won, 7-1. The winning pitcher is Chris Bassitt who improved his record to 14-7 and the loss goes to Zach Neal (1-1).

The A’s bullpen is now 3-3 with a horrendous ERA. The next game for Oakland is the last game of the series, Wednesday September 5th and JP Sears (3-11, 4.60) and Hyun Jin Ryu (3-1, 2.48) will be on the mound for day game to end this series and the A’s homestand.

Giants Suffer Fifth Loss in a Row to Chicago 11-8

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San Francisco Giants’ Joc Pederson (23) greets J.D. Davis at home after they scored on Davis’ two-run home run off Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Hayden Wesneski during the sixth inning at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Tue Sep 5, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants (70-69) took on the Chicago Cubs (75-64) in game two of their series Tuesday evening at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The Giants are struggling, watching their hopes of a wild card in the playoffs starting to slightly dim. They have lost four games in a row and dropped 17 of their last 25 games.

They are tied with Arizona and Miami for the final NL postseason spot. They desperately needed to win Tuesday night’s game and while it looked good in the early innings, the Giants could not hold onto several leads throughout the game losing 11-8.

Tuesday game recap: San Francisco wasted no time putting runs up on the board scoring in the first three innings. They needed some solid offense and they got it in the early innings of this game. They led 3-0 after three innings.

LaMonte Wade Jr. homered in the first inning giving the Giants an early 1-0 lead. Wade Meckler singled J.D. Davis home in the second inning and the score was 2-0 in favor of San Francisco. Another home run in the third inning off the bat of Mike Yastrzemski extended that lead to 3-0. The Giants had a great start in this game.

The Cubs fought right back taking the lead 4-3 in the third inning. Nico Hoerner scored off a Dansby Swanson single. Cody Bellinger scored the Cubs second run of the game when Jeimer Candelario walked with the bases loaded. Chicago would finish up the third inning with a Yan Gomes double sending Dansby Swanson and Seiya Suzuki across home plate for the 4-3 lead.

San Francisco had some work to do if they wanted to put an end to this losing streak. It was a quiet fourth and fifth inning but the Giants had a very productive sixth inning. Joc Pederson doubled Wilmer Flores home and J.D. Davis hit a two-run home run taking a 6-4 lead. The San Francisco defense would now need to protect that lead.

You just cannot keep this Chicago ball club down. They tied up this game in the seventh inning 6-6. Suzuki homered with Swanson on board for the two runs and it was a new ball game. The Cubs went on to take the lead 7-6 when Nike Madrigal grounded into a fielders choice and Candelario scored. Chicago extended their lead thanks to Christopher Morel who hit a three-run home run and the Giants watched their lead dissolve now trailing 10-6.

San Francisco had two innings left in this game to right the ship or lose their fifth game in a row. The Giants got right to work scoring in the eighth inning when Brandon Crawford singled J.D. Davis home.

San Francisco had gotten one run back but needed a whole lot more still trailing 10-7. With runners on first and third and two outs the Giants had the tying run at the plate. The top of the eighth came to an end and San Francisco left the two runners stranded and were three outs away from yet another loss.

The Cubs were not finished and continued their hit parade scoring another run when Suzuki singled Swanson home increasing their lead to 11-7. The Giants defense kept the damage to a minimum with the one run but were three outs away from dropping another game. They had a huge offensive task in front of them.

Wilmer Flores, who has been playing some terrific ball, hit a solo home run in the ninth inning and San Francisco was desperate to salvage this game. With one out, J.D. Davis came to the plate and hit into a double play and that was the ball game 11-8 in favor of the Cubs.

This game that started out with such promise crumbled in the later innings. Game three will be played Wednesday with first pitch at 11:20. At the time of this post starting pitcher for San Francisco was undecided. Jordan Wicks will take the mound for Chicago with a 2-0 win/loss record and a 1.80 ERA. The Giants will be trying to prevent the sweep.

San Jose Sharks podcast with Troy Ewers: Sharks put hopes on Hoffman, Duclair and Blackwood for 23-24 season

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Winnipeg Jets’ Cole Perfetti (91) turns after scoring a goal against New Jersey Devils goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (29) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023, in Newark, N.J. MacKenzie who plays goalie for San Jose is preparing for the pre season (AP News photo)

On the San Jose Sharks podcast with Troy Ewers:

#1 Troy there’s no doubt that the SJ Sharks have a lot stacked against them from making the playoffs this season. They struggled even when they had Erik Karlsson now they can expect to struggle even more without him.

#2 Last season the Sharks had goaltenders James Reimer and Kaapo Kahkonen and they had a rough seasons.

#3 The Sharks in their save percentage had .881 and that was 2% less than the rest of the league where the average was .899 and they need to bring that up

#4 For Kahkonen he needs to be able to stop the shot and have the kind of season he had in the early part of last year. MacKenzie Blackwood needs to execute the kind of performance that got him to the NHL in the first place.

#5 The loss of Timo Meier last season hurts the team and the Sharks are looking at Anthony Duclair and Mike Hoffman to help out in some crucial scoring.

Troy Ewers is a San Jose Sharks reporter for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Las Vegas Raiders podcast with Tony Renteria: How ready is Garoppolo and Raiders for Broncos on Sunday?

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Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo speaks with a Raiders assistant coach on the field against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on Sat Aug 26, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the LV Raiders podcast with Tony R:

#1 Jimmy Garoppolo quarterback Las Vegas Raiders says the spirit of the dressing is high, and said it’s great to be back in the Raiders building working out and getting ready for Sunday’s game against the Broncos.

#2 On Aug 26th the Raiders sat down and ironed out a deal with running back Josh Jacobs for one year deal for $12 million. Jacobs held out for a new contract for quite some time.

#3 Jimmy G said that he met with Jacobs first time this week since his signing and Garoppolo said that it’s great to see Jacobs in practice and said he’s glad that it all worked out for Jacobs.

#4 Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson could be the best place kicker in the NFL, Carlson was 34 for 37 in field goal attempts last season how surprising is it that he hasn’t made the Pro Bowl yet?

#5 How does quarterback Brian Hoyer look in pre season games and how much confidence does head coach Josh McDaniel have in Hoyer coming into the season as Garoppolo’s back up.

Join Tony Renteria does the Las Vegas Raiders at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Dodgers Urias busted for second domestic charge; Giants on 4 game loss streak still half game out; plus more news

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Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Juan Urias picked up his second domestic violence charge the latest coming on Sun Sep 3, 2023 in Los Angeles. Urias posted bond and his future with the Dodgers is in question. (AP file photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary:

#1 Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Juan Urias was arrested on Sunday night at 11pm for felony domestic violence in Los Angeles. Urias was booked at 1:00 AM and posted a $50,000 bond 4:47am PT. This was Urias’ second domestic violence infraction in May 2019.

#2 The San Francisco Giants are slipping quickly they have lost their fourth straight game this time to the Chicago Cubs getting shutout by the Cubs starter Justin Steele 5-0. Despite losing four games in a row and struggling the Giants are only a half game out of the NL Wild Card race.

#3 The Toronto Blue Jays are getting hit by the injury bug, as catcher Danny Jansen is out with a fractured middle finger. He joins infielder Bo Bichette and Matt Chapman who recently joined the IL. Amaury your going to take in a Blue Jays contest tonight how do you see Chapman, Bichette, and Jansen absence impacting the Toronto line up.

#4 San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford whose had his share of injuries, also some are questioning could this be the end of his career and what about his future, Crawford has hit .200 in 78 games. To hear Crawford talk about it he’s focusing on trying to close the NL Wild Card gap and helping the Giants get in the post season.

#5 Amaury, how much do you think the fans and public at large have a say in the Oakland A’s relocation. There are people in Las Vegas who are not too happy about the way this deal went down to get the A’s with the use of the public money. Could the negative feedback of the fans possibly influence the owners at the relocation vote?

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice for 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