lleonardbw

Montreal sources say A’s could be a serious contender to move to Canada if new lease isn’t signed

Published on July 10, 2014July 10, 2014 by lleonardbwLeave a comment

by Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND–According to some media reports and talk show hosts in Canada the real possibility of the Oakland A’s moving to Montreal if the Oakland City Council does not sign the new ten year lease that would keep the A’s at the Oakland Coliseum until 2424 is very realistic. Oakland City Councilman Larry Reid said that the A’s have options and that Montreal and San Antonio were open to receive the A’s if the lease deal falls through.

What makes this realistic is Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig has given A’s co-owner Lew Wolff his blessing for the team to bolt out of the city of Oakland forthwith if a deal isn’t struck. The Alameda County Board of Supervisors have already committed to voting for the deal but the Oakland City Council are at odds regarding the lease which they approved last week 6-2 but another phase of voting is scheduled on Tuesday July 29th.

The Council have problems with the A’s insisting on a two year advance notice rather than the one that some council members are proposing a four year notice if the club wants out of the city of Oakland, also the council wants a cut of the A’s advertising revenues from the new $10 million scoreboard they plan to install if a deal is struck.

Wolff has insisted that he will not renegotiate the lease and that he stands pat on the agreement between the A’s and the city council. The monkey wrench into the mix is the Oakland Raiders are also threatening to leave if they don’t get a new stadium under construction by 2015 in the footprint of the Coliseum.

If a ten year A’s lease is signed, the Raiders said they would leave Oakland as the football team wants a new stadium ready by 2016, Oakland Supervisor Nate Miley said the who notion of the Raiders threatening to leave if the A’s lease is signed and the Raiders don’t get to tear down the Coliseum for a new stadium is “smoke and mirrors” also Miley questioned where is the money going to come from to build a new Raiders stadium the City and County already owe $180 million on the current Coliseum for the construction of the elevated bleacher seats in the A’s outfield known after the late Raiders owner Al Davis as Mount Davis.

Meanwhile Canadian Officials chimed in on the possibility of Montreal being named as a city the A’s might move to if the lease doesn’t get signed. Canadian officals are getting behind the effort to bring back an MLB team to Montreal, Canadian Prime Minister Steve Harper tweeted “I hope efforts @ExposNation will one day be rewarded with a team in Montreal.#Expos” Also Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre said a corporate sponsor will be needed to help finance a new downtown stadium. Unlike the U.S. where public funding for new stadiums are shared with the team and sponsors. Public funding will not happen in Canada for a new stadium the monies must come from private funding. Coderre is regarded as the best mayor Montreal has ever had or at least in recent memory and he is getting behind bringing baseball back to Montreal.

Oakland Mayor Jean Quan wants to build a Sports Village Complex at the Coliseum but there are variables to make that happen. To keep the Raiders happy the A’s must move out of the Coliseum to temporary digs. The Raiders will get their new Stadium while also playing elsewhere by 2016 and the City and the A’s must build a new stadium for the A’s at the Coliseum complex and when that’s ready the A’s can move into their new stadium likewise the Raiders. That would be the plan in a perfect world.

Jerry Feitelberg covers A’s baseball for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaurys News and Commentary:LA jury finds Dodgers, ex-owner McCourt, negligent in Stow beating

Published on July 9, 2014 by lleonardbwLeave a comment

by Amaury Pi Gonzalez

LOS ANGELES–Bryan Stow the San Francisco Giants fan and his friends who were taunted during a Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers game at Dodgers Stadium on opening night March 31, 2011 and later beaten after the game by. The beating went unnoticed by police or security personnel that left Stow permenantly brain damaged after receiving kicking blows to the head that evening.

Stow and his friends were under attack from Dodger fans Louie Sanchez and Marvin Norwood who later admitted guilt in the beating. Stow and his family sued the Dodgers because of a lack of security in the area during the beating, the Stows sued for $18 million. The jury found the Dodgers guilty for 25 percent of the damages to Stow and that Norwood and Sanchez would be split the rest of the sum between them.

The Dodgers would be in for $14 million plus an extra $1 million for the pain and suffering caused to Stow, Stow attorney Tom Girardi had asked for double that amount. The trial lasted for weeks before the jury deliberated on a verdict. The jury made it’s decision based on Girardi being able to establish the lack of security in the Dodgers parking lot.

The Dodgers attorney Dana Fox said that the Dodgers had provided extra security that night because of it being opening night of the 2011 season. Fox said that the Dodgers provided the most intense security in the team’s history demonstrating payroll sheets as to the security personnel roster as to who was on duty that night.

Girardi argued be it as it may there was a lack of security in the part of the parking lot where Stow was beaten which was the negligence found against the Dodgers. Girardi explained that the Dodgers mere budget cuts or trimming of security that night costed Stow to be beaten to near death, “The Dodgers own pocketbook prevented them from providing proper security.” Girardi provided the jury a chart of the team’s budget for that night which came out to 62 cents per each fan in attendance which translates to a lack of security in the parking lot.

Fox argued that Stow was responsible for his beating by baiting and arguing with Norwood and Sanchez during the game “there were three parties responsible Sanchez, Norwood and unfortunately Stow himself, There were things that Mr.Stow did that put these things into action” said Fox. It was reported that all three had been drinking.

Girardi during the trial displayed how fans and the culture of Dodgers fans would be there to brawl during the McCourt years. Fans were not there for baseball they were there to drink, get drunk and fight. Girardi also said that beer sales were off the charts. Girardi reportedly was able to demonstrate the number of security and police calls that they received from fans who were involved or who reported fights in the stands or in the parking lot previous to the Stow beating.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish TV voice for L.A. Angels baseball and does News and Commentary each week for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s want to move ahead with lease, doubt Raiders can tear down Coliseum

Published on July 9, 2014 by lleonardbwLeave a comment

by Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND–After Los Angeles developer Forest City withdrew from it’s plans to demolish the Oakland Coliseum and build a new stadium for the Oakland Raiders which would include building retail, a luxury hotel, and condos on the Coliseum foot print, the Raiders are now without a developer. The A’s who are saying “wait a minute, what about our ten year lease” are prepared to leave the Coliseum with two years notice if the Raiders get what they want and have the Coliseum torn down for a new football stadium and Coliseum city village. The Raiders want to get started by 2015 with construction.

Oakland City Councilman Larry Reid said that the city doesn’t have the funding to tear the Coliseum and put a new stadium on it, “they don’t have a developer, they don’t have the money” said Reid. The A’s and the city council came to an agreement when the council voted last week 6-2 in favor of getting the A’s a ten year lease.

With the Raiders stepping up and saying they want the stadium torn down in 2015 the A’s want a two year notice before they have to leave the Coliseum before construction on a new Raiders stadium. The two years would keep the A’s at the Coliseum until the end of the 2016 season enough time to find new digs for the 2017 season. The Raiders are saying they don’t want to wait until 2016 they want to start in 2015.

The city council and the Alameda County board of Supervisors will be voting on the A’s ten year lease on July 29th, the sueprvisors are on board with enough votes to pass the new lease but the jury is still out with the city council who are still debating on passing the lease agreement for the A’s. Some of the stigmas have been over the length of the A’s notice to be given before leaving the Coliseum in case they want to leave Oakland. The Joint Powers Authority have asked the A’s to renegotiate the four year notice requirement, the A’s are asking for two years notice before vacating, the Council is asking the A’s to share advertising revenue from the new $10 million scoreboard the team plans to install.

A’s co-owner Lew Wolf said he has no intention of renegotiating the lease and that the A’s are of the understanding they have an agreement for ten years ready to sign. Wolf and the A’s have permission from MLB Commissioner Bud Selig to leave for either San Antonio or Montreal on a moments notice if there is no deal with the city.

The notion that the Raiders are asking to tear down the Coliseum so they can build a new stadium by 2015 got some headshaking reactions from some city officials, “(the idea is) totally preposterous, we owe about $180 million on the stadium, this is either smoke and mirrors or they are on crack” said County Supervisor Nate Miley.

Coliseum City attorney also a heavy in the Oakland political scene Zachary Wasserman wrote to Oakland Mayor Jean Quan on July 2 saying “it would be critical to demolish the existing stadium in 2015” if the stadium is not ready by then the Raiders plan to play elsewhere until the new Raiders stadium is ready, “(the Raiders) are making arrangements to play elsewhere” wrote Wasserman.

The A’s don’t believe that the Raiders can get an agreement from the JPA to start construction in 2015 and force the A’s out by 2015. The A’s want at least two years notice if they have to vacate the Coliseum to play elsewhere and the A’s are confident it won’t happen, “from our position, we just don’t think that (Raiders project) is going to happen, we are betting it doesn’t” said A’s spokesman Ken Pries.

Jerry Feitelberg is covering A’s baseball for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s could leave for of all places a baseball hungry Montreal if there is no lease agreement

Published on July 8, 2014July 8, 2014 by lleonardbwLeave a comment

by Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND–What are the realistic chances of the Oakland A’s leaving town if the Oakland City Council votes against the ten year lease to keep the A’s at the Oakland Coliseum? Two cities have been proposed that the A’s would consider moving to if the council votes down the ten year lease and the A’s could leave as soon as this season to next season to two cities, Montreal or San Antonio.

City Councilman Larry Reid said that if the team does not get the lease and there is still a good chance the council can vote down the lease they would leave Oakland, “They have options, (Montreal) have already demonstrated their support of a professional team.” In Montreal in late March they have held a three exhibition games at Olympic Stadium and each game was sold out just before kicking off the regular season featuring the New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays.

According to reports from A’s team spokesman Ken Pries he would not confirm or deny the A’s consideration of moving to either Texas or Canada but would only say the A’s are “sitting back and waiting to see what happens (with the Coliseum lease) and hoping for the best.”

Montreal had a Major League team the Montreal Expos from 1969-2004, low attendance, no new downtown stadium and old Olympic stadium were reasons why the team left and moved to Washington becoming the Nationals. A recent resurgence through the exhibition games have demonstrated peaked interest for Montreal having another shot at getting back into the show.

In 1994 the Expos were the winningest team in Major League Baseball and they were on their way to making post season and maybe having their best shot ever at winning a World Series, those dreams were dashed by the baseball strike that same season. If the team had gone all the way in 94 they would have had a new stadium built and would never have left Montreal as they did ten years later in 2004.

The only other place available in San Antonio for the A’s to play at is the Alamodome but in right field it’s only 280 feet down the line which is way too short of regulation which is at least 325 feet. So as far as stadium ready there seems like there is not a stadium ready in either Montreal or San Antonio that would be new and waiting for the A’s but A’s co-owner Lew Wolf may do what Councilman Reid says and bolt Oakland if the council rejects the lease agreement.

As far as the Oakland City Council is concerned in terms of the scheduled vote on July 29th it’s not too optimistic in terms of the chances of passing the Coliseum ten year lease. Amongst those of the council who object to the current lease they want to renegotiate the terms such as a share in advertising revenue from the new $10 million scoreboard the A’s have said they would put in above the outfield bleachers, and also council members are asking that the A’s give a four year notice before they can leave the Coliseum if the Raiders commit to building a football stadium at the Coliseum site.

The city has a wonderful opportunity here to keep the A’s in Oakland but after 14 months of negotiating the council wants to change the lease agreement that Wolff said he will no longer negotiate on and that the A’s are of the understanding that they have a lease agreement in place. The management of the city of Oakland is suspect right now I don’t have confidence that the council will do the right thing by keeping the A’s in Oakland and even Oakland Board of Supervisors president Nate Miley said he if the council does not pass the ten lease for the A’s to stay at the Coliseum the A’s will make good on their threat to leave “I’d put money on that” said Miley.

Jerry Feitelberg covers A’s baseball for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaurys News and Commentary: Jeter continues All-Star record among actives at 13 appearences

Published on July 7, 2014 by lleonardbwLeave a comment

by Amaury Pi Gonzalez

ANAHEIM–This is the New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter’s last season and you look at Jeter’s numbers and you look at the White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez’. Ramirez has better numbers and the Angels shortstop Erick Aybar also has much better numbers than Jeter. Jeter is going to be among those with 3,000 career hits and its going to be tremendous and Jeter will be a first ballot Hall of Famer.

The Oakland A’s have seven All-Stars participating in next week’s All-Star game, second baseman Josh Donaldson,outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, catcher Derek Norris, first baseman Brandon Moss, and pitchers Scott Kazmir and Sean Doolittle, and latest Athletic pitcher Jeff Samardzija. A lot of credit is desereved to A’s manager Bob Melvin he’s the perfect manager for the A’s and Cespedes he’s an All-Star again and he’s from Cuba and he came from a different culture and he made something of himself with this team.

There are other great players who are not going to the All-Star game from the A’s like Brandon Moss, Coco Crisp, by the way Crisp had a second career this season and most people thought that he was at the end of his career. Crisp is one of the best hitter in baseball right now. Billy Beane the A’s general manager not only gets a couple players for his team he gets two of the best pitchers from the National League and from the Cubs.

Samardzija and Josh Hammel had great ERAs for a last place team, now you put them in the middle of his rotation with the A’s but you hate to make a predictions but the A’s are starting to look like a potential American League Championship winner and they could be an amazing World Series team. Something that people in Vegas might feel confident to bet on. I have to go back and A’s manager Bob Melvin has to get a lot of the credit.

The funny thing about this is when was the last time that you saw a pitcher selected for the National League and then gets selected by the American League for the All-Star game in the same year? That’s whats happening to Samardzija he was selected to represent the Cubs and now he going to represent the A’s. The A’s in trading for Samardzija feel like they have the best pitching in the show right now.

The A’s are going to start Hammel this week against the Giants and Hammel is a very good pitcher and it’s really exciting news around baseball and the biggest story is the A’s right now. Now the A’s are not only getting one great pitcher but they ended up trading for two great pitchers. It was the biggest surprise that they were able to get the two top pitchers from the Cubs. You would think they would be able to only get one pitcher but they ended up getting two.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish TV voice for Angels baseball and does News and Commentary each week for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaurys News and Commentary: 85th All-Star, Aaron, Mays, and Musial still rule on All-Star appearences

Published on July 7, 2014 by lleonardbwLeave a comment

by Amaury Pi Gonzalez

In the history of the All Star Game, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Stan Musial hold the record with 24 selections. Following are Mickey Mantle 20, Ted Williams 19 and Cal Ripken Jr. 19. Among all active players today, Derek Jeter, NY Yankee shortstop (who will be starting for the American League next Tuesday) has the most All Star appearances with 13.

The American League Oakland Athletics, with the best record in baseball, placed six players on the roster for the first time since 1975. Josh Donaldson will be the starting third baseman.
The San Francisco Giants will have two players( N.L reserves)Hunter Pence and Madison Bumgarner.

National League Milwaukee will send four All Stars for the first time since 2007.

Also, 25 first time All-Stars and 24 foreign-born players were announced. Rookie Jose Abreu (Cuba)of the Chicago White Sox and pitcher Masahiro Tanaka(Japan)of the New York Yankees, are among the first timers. Abreu with 27 home runs leads both leagues, and Tanaka with 12 wins leads all pitchers.

The Home Run derby competition which began in 1985 with Cincinnati Dave Parker as the winner, will have three Cuban-born stars; Yasiel Puig(Dodgers) for the National League and Jose Abreu(White Sox)and Yoenis Cespedes(Oakland)for the American League, among others. Because of sports television networks, the Home Run Derby has become a popular event televised worldwide. Last year’s winner was Oakland A’s left fielder Yoenis Cespedes.

The first Major League Baseball All Star Game took place July 6, 1933 at Comiskey Park, Chicago.

Target Field, Minneapolis Seating Capacity 39,500. Game will be televised nationally by Fox.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish radio voice for A’s baseball and does News and Commentary each week on http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Michael Duca on A’s and Giants: Giants and A’s get set to meet for four starting Monday

Published on July 6, 2014July 7, 2014 by lleonardbwLeave a comment

by Michael Duca

Giants update: The San Francisco Giants got a home run from Brandon Belt who hasn’t hit one all year for a game winner on Saturday night in San Diego and then they got a home run from Gregor Blanco who hasn’t hit one this season, and then another home run from Michael Morse who hasn’t hit one in five weeks for his 14th of the season. Anyone of those would be a nice shot in the arm for the Giants but the three of them together would give a big dose of hope to that locker room.

Most people who haven’t been in a professional sports environment they think the players love to be at home and they have home cooking and they could be with their family and spend time with their kids and what could be worse than that. It’s terrible that their on the road, but that’s not the way it is. You have to remember that professional athletes are basically frat boys for rest and development.

So when the players get out on the road they have the opportunity to bond with each other and they don’t go their own separate ways. After the game they can stick together and when you have a team like the Giants struggling like they have, the road is a good place for them to relax. If they start having fun they’ll start winning and having fun and having fun winning reoccurs.

Oakland A’s update: I don’t know if the A’s are playing the best baseball or are the best team in baseball right now, they are the most complete club in baseball. Whether or not that translates to post season you just can’t be sure. Your going to have face Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer the Tigers pitchers eventually.

They’ll face Detroit in a five game series in post season and when that happens all bets will be off the table. However the move the A’s made this week in obtaining from the Cubs Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel. The deal shocked everyone in baseball and how long will these guys end up staying in Oakland and if Samardzija had to leave Chicago one place that was very high on his list was Oakland.

We’ll have to find out because Samardzija said he loved pitching at AT&T in San Francisco which he might have an opportunity too. Were going to find out how much Samardzija can go with this series against the Giants. I will be following Samardzija and the A’s from about 80 feet away during the Giants series because I’m working behind the screen and how well that translates for the A’s to get to post season that’s just a matter of time and the Giants are a decent team.

The A’s will open a two game series in Oakland with the Giants on Monday and then they go to San Francisco to play the Giants on Wednesday. One of the local journalists predicted that the Giants would sweep the A’s in all five games, I don’t think so. There is one thing that you could be sure of when these two teams get together and thats there are so many factors coming into this series with their line ups and how guys are hitting and pitching and let’s not forget these are two first place teams.

Michael Duca does A’s and Giants commentary each week for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Right now Belt is on a pac

A’s get a new lease on life, pressure came from Selig for city council to act

Published on July 3, 2014 by lleonardbwLeave a comment

by Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND–The Oakland City Council had a change of heart in mnatter of 24 hours, after learning that the council was about to deadlock on approving the Oakland A’s new lease on Wednesday night Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig said that the A’s were free to leave Oakland immdediately. The council then voted 6-2 to approve a ten year lease for the A’s to continue playing at the Oakland Coliseum.

If the Oakland Joint Powers Authority voted to deadlock the council drew concern that the team would in fact leave forthwith. Upon hearing the news two councilmen who were prepared to vote no on the new lease changed their votes.

Wolff was of the understanding that the city council had reached an agreement to approve a new ten year lease for the team. The A’s will have their payment for the second year of the lease lowered and that the A’s if they want to leave the City of Oakland must give the city at least two years notice. The A’s still would have to pay the remainder of the ten year lease agreement.

If the A’s move to San Jose or outside of Oakland they would have to give a two year notice before vacating and pay the difference on the ten year lease. If the A’s decided to stay in Oakland or build at the Jack London Square’s Howard Terminal the city would void the two year notice and the A’s would be free to leave the Coliseum without paying the remainder of the lease.

The council learned of Selig’s permission to the A’s to leave Oakland at anytime to seek permanent or temporary digs outside of Oakland 10’O Clock on Wednesday night. Theoretically the team could have left during the current homestand with the Toronto Blue Jays this week and played at another field or stadium until the city got it together, Wolf said that over the past 14 months when the lease was negotiated it was his impression that the council agreed upon all the talking points of the agreement and that there would be no reversal due to politics or finance whatsoever especially at the 11th hour.

Wolf said of the reversal of the city council before hearing of their change of heart, “We believe we have an agreed lease that we were informed would be voted by the JPA, and if passed would be submitted to the city and county. No other lease negotiation entity was noted to us or MLB for 14 months. To characterize not looking beyond the fully negotiated lease as a negative of our 14 months of discussion is unacceptable to us and MLB.

We now find out that the city had some rule that causes even a city JPA representative that wishes to vote their beliefs that such a decision can be altered to translate a positive vote into a negative vote. At no time over 14 months was this use of some rule ever mentioned to us. We do not wish to be involved in any aspect of local city political maneuvering. To try and suddenly try and involve us in a direction that was never once noted is absolutely unacceptable.”

Jerry Feitelberg does sports commentary for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Feitelberg report: City council to vote on A’s ten year lease Thursday;Bonds obstruction count up for review hearing

Published on July 2, 2014 by lleonardbwLeave a comment

by Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND–Members of the Oakland City Council will vote on Thursday to approve a ten year lease for the Oaklnad Athletics at the Oakland Coliseum. Last week four members of the board did not vote on the lease and did not show up at City Hall for the scheduled vote which forced a forfeit because their were not enough coucilmen for a quorum.

The reason for the sit out was city officials were concerned there was not enough protections and incentives in the lease agreement. The A’s last lease allowed them to give one year’s notice if they wanted to leave the Coliseum. Under the new agreement the A’s would have to give the city two years notice if they were going to leave Oakland and they would be on the hook for the remainder of the entire ten year agreement if they left the Coliseum.

If the A’s however considered building a new stadium inside Oakland city limits then the A’s would be free of the ten year obligation and the two year notice wouldn’t matter because it would take that much time to build a new stadium.

With that in mind the discussion of a waterfront stadium was brought up at Howard Terminal at Jack London Square. 15 business leaders in Oakland last March had been in discussions with the Port of Oakland about constructing a 38,000 seat waterfront stadium, the business leaders which consist of CEOs from Dryer’s Ice Cream, Clorox, the son of Senator Barbara Boxer Doug Boxer who is a Oakland business consultant, Mike Ghielmetti of the Signature Development Group.

Lew Wolf the A’s co-owner has expressed in past discussions that he has no intentions to move the team to Jack London Square and his only thoughts on any new stadium plans for the A’s were in two choices, choice number one move to San Jose or number two build a new stadium at the current Coliseum location.

The San Jose idea is still in limbo as the city of San Jose is suing Major League Baseball for the A’s rights to move San Jose.The San Francisco Giants who hold territorial rights in San Jose would more than likely sue baseball if the A’s are allowed to move to San Jose. MLB is waiting for the judges decision on how the San Jose suit against them would proceed. If the judge says the team would be allowed to move to San Jose the Giants most likely would file suit in a higher court to appeal the ruling.

28 judges vote to allow Bonds to appeal obstruction charge: The Federal appeals court said on Tuesday that a majority of it’s judges (28) have voted to allow former Giants outfielder Barry Bonds a new hearing to remove the obstruction charge that a San Francisco jury voted Bonds guilty of in 2011. Bonds because he gave evaded a question as to if his trainer Greg Anderson injected Bonds with steroids.

Rather than answer the question Bonds became evasive and talked about being the child of a celebrity (his late father and former Giant Bobby Bonds), asked about his friendship with Anderson and if he injected him with steroids Bonds said to a federal prosecuting attorney, “I don’t get into other people’s business.”

Bonds lawyers at the time said that Bonds answered the prosecutions questions truthfully and that Bonds answered all the questions flatly, that Anderson never injected him with steroids. Bonds lawyers later appealed the obstruction charge which was upheld by U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston who heard the case. Illston at the appeals hearing said that Bonds answer was not relevant to the question prosecutors were asking and indeed it was obstruction.

A hearing to proceed with the appeal and also based on the 28 judge vote to proceed will be heard in mid September. The Babo/BALCO steroid case now has a new life to it and if Bonds wins his appeal he could be back in the good graces of the Giants again. There is a good chance that MLB and the court of popular opinion may still reject Bonds and think of him as a cheater.

Jerry Feitelberg does sports commentary for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Michael Duca on A’s and Giants: At this point Bochy is mixing and matching relief pitchers;Young and Chili two A’s coaches who go unsung

Published on July 1, 2014 by lleonardbwLeave a comment

by Michael Duca

SAN FRANCISCO–The reason why the Giants manager Bruce Bochy has gone to committee in his bullpen is because he demoted his closer Sergio Romo and it’s a move to insure that you don’t have any hurt feelings for the rest of your staff because somebody didn’t get an opportunity.

As long as your experiencing failure you might as well let everybody try out for the job. Giants reliever Jeremy Affeldt got his shot on Sunday and Santiago Casilla will get the next shot in this week’s series against St.Louis. It wouldn’t even surprise me at some point if Jean Machi would get a shot.

However, when this is all said and done and September rolls around the closer is going to be Sergio Romo. Until then the team is going to do what they have to do and Romo is going to be moved to an eighth inning reliever. Bochy is trying to get him a little confidence built up.

Bochy would like to get Romo into situations where he can face three hitters and it could be done. Closer by committee in general does not work and when your saying your doing it what your really doing is putting a happy face on “were hosting an open try out.”

Oakland A’s update:Before A’s reliever Sean Doolittle gave up a walk off grand slam to former Athletic Rajai Davis of the Detroit Tigers on Monday night for a 5-4 win Doolittle had a 56-1 strikeout to walk ratio which is unheard of. Doolittle is the first pitcher since 1900 to strikeout 45 guys before walking his second batter.

Doolittle still has not walked that second batter, I’m reminded of one of the glory years that former Athletic reliever Dennis Eckersly had and he actually allowed more home runs than bases on balls, he only allowed four home runs that year and he walked three guys the whole season.

Sometimes you get in that groove the best thing that I can say there is nothing from watching Doolittle pitch that makes you expect this to happen he doesn’t throw 100 MPH. He doesn’t have a slider that disappears or has no dot. He doesn’t throw a curve ball that falls off the table.

Doolittle basically comes out and says “I’m going to throw the ball 94 MPH up under your hands and you can’t do anything about it” and he proceeds to do that pitch after pitch after pitch. Also here’s a kid like A’s pitcher Jesse Chavez whose coming in and doing the job.

The A’s bullpen is doing very good and has confidence and nobody talks about A’s pitching coach Curt Young and hitting coach Chili Davis and Davis does a terrific job with that team and he doesn’t get any media coverage. Young is one of the brainest and quietest pitching coaches in baseball and doesn’t get any credit. But look at the success of he A’s bullpen.

Michael Duca was joined by SRS writers Jeremy Kahn, Amaury Pi Gonzalez, and Morris Phillips for this week’s A’s and Giants commentary on http://www.sportsradioservice.com