Author: Sports Radio Service

Earthquakes second half surge buries Fire 2-0. Advance to round of 16 of MLS Is Back Tournament

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San Jose Earthquakes gets sprayed with a can of beer as they celebrate their second win shutting out the Chicago Fire on Sunday 2-0 at the ESPN Wide World Sports Complex in Orlando (theathletic.com photo)

by Marko Ukalovic

ORLANDO, Fla—The San Jose Earthquakes are making a habit of putting teams away in the second half of matches.

They scored two goals to take control in the second 45 en-route to a 2-0 shutout victory over the Chicago Fire FC in their final match of Group B play on Sunday evening at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

With the win, the Quakes clinched first place with seven points (2-0-1) in Group B of the MLS Is Back tournament and advance to the Round of 16 as they await their next opponent.

“These three games were important for this tournament, and it’s also important for the points in the regular season from the stoppage,” said Quakes head coach Matias Almeyda. “Today, the players are responding in an excellent manner. That makes us and our families happy, especially the people from San Jose that watch and follow us.”

The first half featured an exhibition on passing and not much shooting the ball at the goal. San Jose controlled possession with a 70%-30% advantage, but neither team generated many quality chances.

Magnus Eriksson’s shot attempt in the 25th minute sailed high over the net. Luka Stojanovic had the best chance to score by either team in the 39th minute when Chicago finally applied pressure in the offensive zone. However his right-footed shot also sailed over the net.

San Jose (2-1-2) broke the deadlock in the 56th minute when Andy Rios made a touch pass over to Jackson Yuiell. The Man of the Match then quickly found Cristian Espinoza ahead down the right wing. Espinoza beat Fire defender Francisco Calvo off the ball and lasered a shot into the back corner past goalkeeper Kenneth Kronholm for his first goal of the season.

“We are just excited to be a team again, playing together. I think now these three games have given us a lot of confidence and a lot of momentum. We are just happy to be on the field. We didn’t want this to be our last game for a while, and we want to keep pushing and keep playing together. You can kind of see that everyone has a little bit of a chip on their shoulders to make it as far as we can and to enjoy ourselves. I think that’s why we are doing the best right now,” said Yueill.

It’s Espinoza third goal in 35 games since San Jose acquired him at the start of the 2019 season.

San Jose put the game away in the 83rd minute thanks to its super substitute Chris Wondolowski. Carlos Fierro sent in a perfect cross from the right sideline to an unmarked Wondolowski and the all-time MLS leading goal scorer headed in the ball past Kronholm for his second goal in as many games.

Wondo, who scored 30 seconds after coming in as a sub for Judson in the 82nd minute, increased his record to 161 goals.

“[The substitutions] depend on the game and on what we are experiencing on the bench. But I considered the game still open, and we could have ended it with the substitutions that we made. Fortunately, it ended up in a positive result,” Almeyda said.

Chicago (1-2-1) couldn’t find a way to get a ball past Quakes goalkeeper Daniel Vega. He has recorded two shutouts in three games of group play.

San Jose’s back line, led by Florian Jungwirth, did a good job frustrating Fire forwards Robert Beric and C.J. Sapong and keeping them off the scoresheet.

GAME NOTES: San Jose had 5 corner kicks. Chicago had 3. It was considerably less than the MLS record 22 they had against Vancouver last Wednesday.

Stojanovic was replaced by Fabian Herbers in the second minute of stoppage time in the first half due to an lower body injury he suffered in the first half.

Chicago’s Boris Sekulic (29th minute), Alvaro Medran (53rd minute), Herbers (61st minute) Mauricio Pineda (62nd minute) Gaston Gimenez (58th minute) and San Jose’s Florian Jungwirth (37th minute), Judson (50th minute) and Eriksson (86th minute) received yellow cards.

San Jose is now 12-16-11 all-time against Chicago.

UP NEXT: San Jose awaits their next opponent at the conclusion of group play. Chicago takes on Vancouver as both teams conclude Group B play on Thursday 7/23 at 6:00am at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: MLB 2020 will it be remembered as “Fake Season?”

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Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Madison Bumgarner who is noted for his pretty good use of the bat will not be able to hit as the National League for the first time will be using the universal designated hitter one of the firsts in baseball that Amaury talks about in today’s commentary (arizonarepublic.com file photo)

MLB 2020: Will it be remembered as the “Fake Season”

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Will this 2020 season that begins this week be remembered as the season when these things happened? At least ten (10) of them.

1-The Canadian team was not allowed to play in Canada. 2-The first season when there was a new “Virus DL” list. 3- First season when National League used the Designated Hitter. 4- First season when no fan caught a foul ball at a game. 5- First season when many players and umpires opted-out prior to the inaugural game. 6-First season when a game went extra-innings and the team batting in the top of the 10 th automatically starts the frame with a runner at second-base. 7-First time all parking lots at each park are empty. 8-First season each team broadcaster radio and television works inside a whole booth alone. 9-First time all schedule promotions at each park, like the tickets, will be a collector’s item and 10- A 60-game season that is not completed, because of extenuating circumstances.

I am sure there will be other “firsts” like in some places the National Anthem might not be played. Many people that are invited by teams to sing, will not be there, and a plethora of other stuff.

No question we are embarking into this season just like when in early August of 1492 Spain King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain financed the trip by Italian mariner Christopher Columbus who sailed from Spain with three small ships, and in late August sighted Cuba, which he thought it was mainland China. Later Columbus (who didn’t have a GPS) landed in Hispaniola (today Dominican Republic) and thought it might be Japan. Obviously and inadvertently, as history would have it, Columbus was involved with three baseball countries; Cuba, Dominican Republic and Japan. He struck-out on China.

Hopefully this 60-game season will be completed as planned and fans hungry for the game WILL get a taste of a season that will be marked with asterisks. A very realistic possibility exists that some baseball historians will regard the 2020 season as the “fake season”.

As much as I love the game of baseball, I still have my feet planted on the ground and this is how I see it. You might agree, or disagree. I will always respect your opinion as long as we can remain a free country.

Stay well and stay tuned.

Catch Amaury for Spanish A’s broadcasts on the A’s Spanish flagship station at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Daniel Daniel: After name change Washington now hit for sexual harassment charges; College football moving to spring; plus more

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Washington owner Dan Snyder not only had to change the name of his football team but his they are also being accused of sexual harassment (bleacherreport.com file photo)

Headline Sports podcast with Daniel Dullum:

1 Bad week for Washington owner Daniel Snyder: First his team is pressured into a name change, then allegations of sexual harassment within the organization

2 CAA latest conference to cancel fall football season; SEC will honor scholarships for players who opt out of 2020; NJCAA voted to move most fall sports to spring

3 Canadian government denies Blue Jays’ request to play home games in Toronto

4 Braves’ Freddie Freeman said he prayed for his life during Covid-19 fever

5 Australian Olympic figure skater dies at age 20

Daniel does Headline Sports each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL podcast with Len Shapiro: Hawks Kane looking forward to March Madness type post season; Pens Crosby leaves early from game scrimmage; plus more

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The Chicago Blackhawks Patrick Kane takes in a morning skate saying the new Stanley Cup Playoff format reminds him of the NCAAB March Madness format with playing games all day and night (nhl.com photo)

On the NHL podcast with Len:

#1 Len the Chicago Blackhawks Patrick Kane says the qualifiers are like March Madness how much similarity do you see the two having side by side.

#2 One of the things that Kane said is that the “Hockey All Day”format had the March Madness feel to it playing hockey from morning till night. Adding that you can watch six games in one day.

#3 The Pittsburgh Penguins Syd Crosby left after scoring a goal with 15 minutes left in a scrimmage game on Saturday for undisclosed reasons. The Penguins Conor Sheary said it was for maintenance reasons saying it wasn’t anything.

#4 The New York Rangers Kaapo Kakko says that his type 1 diabetic condition will not prevent him from returning to the ice and he’s not worried that there is a chance that he could contract severe Covid-19. He said his being so young (19) that is diabetic condition is alright right now.

#5 Caleb Jones of the Edmonton Oilers had to self quarantine two weeks before the Oilers camp before returning to practice. Jones said he considered himself lucky that he was healthy and ready to return to the ice.

Len Shapiro does the NHL podcasts every other Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Walton expects Fox to recover from ankle injury by Jul 31 restart date

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The Sacramento Kings De’Aaron Fox (5) says he’s ready and anxious to get back in the line up on July 31st at the Walt Disney World bubble. Fox has suffered two ankle injuries this season (sactownroyalty.com file photo)

Headline Sports podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 Jeremiah the Sacramento Kings restart the season on Friday July 31st at the Walt Disney World bubble in Orlando that’s almost two weeks of recovery for De’Aaron Fox who is suffering a mild to moderate ankle injury.

#2 It’s bad enough as the Kings now have four players sidelined with Coronavirus issues with Harrison Barnes being the latest King to contract the disease. None of the four Kings players are suffering symptoms and are waiting to test negative before returning back. The Kings Alex Len who had C-9 has been cleared to come back and should be in the line up for the game on the 31st.

#3 How creative does head coach Luke Walton have to be now with his line up with players out Corona and De’Aaron out with the ankle?

#4 Fox you may recall missed 17 games before the shutdown with a grade 3 sprain. The sprain caused a complete detachment of the ligament requiring 10-12 weeks on the injury list.

#5 After much time off Fox has to be anxious to get back in the line up after the two ankle injuries will he be up to the task to help the team out in this last eight game stretch?

Join Charlie O every other Saturday for the Kings podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Oh No Canada!

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Rogers Centre in Toronto the usual home of the Toronto Blue Jays but not this season because of the huge pandemic issues in the US. The Canadian government is not allowing teams from the US in Toronto (ballparksofbaseball.com file photo)

Oh No Canada!

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

The Federal Government of Canada has prohibited the Toronto Blue Jays of playing at their home field Rogers Centre this season, because of their necessary travel to the US and the dangers of Covid-19 to the Canadian citizens. 2020 keeps bringing us unprecedented situations.

According to sources, the Blue Jays are considering two places; Dunedin, Florida,their Spring Training Home or Buffalo New York, their Triple A affiliate. But those two places present challenges. Dunedin is in Florida, today one of the hottest spots for the virus in the US and Buffalo, that park in Buffalo doesn’t have lights to major league standards, not to mention that New York State has been hit hard by the virus.

Canada has not been hit as hard by Covid-19, but to be fair to the US. Canada by territory is larger than the United States, their total population is 37 million people while the US is around 325 million. The State of California alone has a larger population than Canada, with around 40 million.

Ironically the Blue Jays are scheduled to open the season next Friday the 24th against the Rays at Tampa Bay. Looks like Florida is in the cards for the Jays one way or another.

Less than a week remains for a decision, where the Toronto team will be playing their 30 home games this year. But one thing is for sure, it will not be at their home park and country of Canada.

Stay tuned and stay well.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the radio play by play announcer for A’s baseball on 1010 KIQI San Francisco and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

NHL podcast with Matt Harrington: Bruins Pastrnak and Kase were not disciplined for extra practices on social media

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The Boston Bruins David Pastrnak show here during the Winter Classic was not disciplined with teammate Ondrej Kase for practicing in a different rink that was videoed and posted on social media both were ruled unfit for practice on Thursday and Friday (pinterest.com file photo)

On Headlines with Matt:

#1 Matt you remember when being called a goat meant you were at the bottom of the food chain on a sports roster but now being a goat is a great thing . The Greatest Of All Time for hockey right now stands with the Great One Wayne Gretzky.

#2 The Boston Bruins David Pastrnak missed his second straight day of practice as the B’s reported Pastrnak was unfit to practice and forward Ondrej Kase who practiced on Wednesday missed practices on Thursday and Friday.

#3 Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy was asked if the missed practices were related to social media photos of Pastrnak and Kase working out at a different rinks. Cassidy said no that is not the case and no one has been disciplined.

#4 Pastrnak was in practice on Wednesday as he was held up due to quarantine issues when he returned from the Czech Republic but was not out due to discipline issues on Thursday and Friday practices.

#5 The Bruins take on the Washington Capitals, Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Philadelphia Flyers for the round robin Stanley Cup qualifiers in Toronto and it all gets started on August 1st.

Join Matt each Saturday for NHL podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O: A’s Mengden working on his new delivery; A’s PA announcer Callahan will sit season out

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Oakland A’s mascot Stomper and A’s PA announcer Dick Callahan stop for a photo behind home plate at the Oakland Coliseum in this file photo. Callahan will not work the PA this season due to a undisclosed health issue. (University of Waterloo file photo)

On Headline Sports with Charlie O:

#1 Oakland A’s right hander Daniel Mengden is noted for his delivery by throwing a double pump side step but altered his deliver during Covid-19 shut down by shortening up his arm stroke according A’s manager Bob Melvin.

#2 Melvin said Mengden’s delivery is also quicker and that he also has great rhythm. Will that be an improvement for Mengden to keep hitters off balance?

#3 Mengden said he tried to shorten up but said he was plagued by elbow discomfort but since he went elbow surgery for a bone spur last February he feels really good.

#4 The Oakland A’s have announced that they will be involved in refurbishing the field at McClymond’s High School in Oakland that will be used for softball and baseball and that the field will be named after former A’s pitcher Dave Stewart.

#5 The Oakland A’s announced on Wednesday that they PA Announcer Dick Callahan 79, will sit out the 2020 season due to a unnamed health issue unrelated to Covid-19. Callahan said he will stay on the side of caution and social distance away from the Oakland Coliseum for this season and says he’s recovering at home.

Join Charlie O for all the latest every other Saturday for the Oakland A’s podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Yanks Cole gives up back to back homers throws 87 pitches against Mets

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The New York Yankees pitcher Gerritt Cole threw against the New York Mets at Yankee Stadium on Friday afternoon in pre season baseball. Here in photo Cole throws in an intersquad game featuring the Yankees split squad team (newsday.com photo)

By Jessica Kwong

NEW YORK—The New York Yankees played their final intrasquad game at Yankee Stadium on Friday evening, with new virtual crowd noise, before facing the New York Mets for an exhibition game ahead of Opening Day.

Right-hander Gerrit Cole threw 87 pitches in his final practice before Opening Day Thursday of the abbreviated 2020 MLB season. The Yankees’ new starting pitcher gave up homers to Mike Ford and Miguel Andújar in the fourth inning, but those were the only runs he allowed in 5 2/3 innings. Cole struck out seven and walked none.

Ford hit into the right-field bullpen. Andújar hit an opposite-field shot in the same direction.

“The back-to-back homers were undesirable from my perspective, just kind of got into a position there where I was spraying some breaking balls and just kind of became noncompetitive,” Cole said. “And I got in some fastball situations where I had to challenge, guys.”

Cole said the intrasquad game “presented a few challenges” but he “absolutely” feels ready for the Opening Day matchup against Max Scherzer and the World Series champion Washington Nationals.

All games leading up to Opening Day are part of MLB’s July Summer Camp and do not count toward the 60-game regular season.

On Friday, the Yankees welcomed back infielder DJ LaMahieu, who tested positive for Covid-19 before Summer Camp. LaMahieu warmed up on the field and got a workout in the weight room before the intrasquad game.

“Obviously everyone is very excited to see the machine back in the building,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.

Coaches have started putting a plan together for La Mahieu’s return to play, but when he will return is still to be decided based on evaluations.

“I don’t want to commit one way or the other, we’ll see how we are then next couple off days,” Boone said. “It would be a pretty quick turnaround obviously. First and foremost, we want to make sure we bring him back safely and smartly and when he’s back, he’s ready to roll.”

Yankees hitting coach Marcus Thames said LaMahieu is a “baseball rat, he knows the game, he knows the swing, he knows what guys are trying to do to him, but he’s still human” and needs to get some at bats and rest before he returns.

The Yankees’ pitchers have been ahead of the hitters. Thames acknowledged that the hitters “have a little ways to go” but that the players at bat have been better.

Players tend to put more pressure on themselves with the shortened season, but Thames said the coaches have been trying to keep them loose and taking one bat at a time.

“We have real pros, we’re going to make sure they’re … ready for the first game against Washington,” Thames said.

As the roster gets decided, outfielder Clint Frazier said he has learned not to worry about where he will be placed.

“I think it’s pretty natural to let your mind wander to those areas but something I’ve learned is to stop trying to play GM,” Frazier said, “I have a role, I don’t know what the role is going to be, I guess we’ll find out what all of our roles will be, but hopefully it’s one I can play a big part in.”

Frazier also confessed that his decision to wear a mask has drawn a lot of positive, as well as negative feedback. He said the criticism isn’t bothering him because he and his teammates need to stay safe to accomplish their goal.

“We want to win the world seri and the way to do that is to be healthy,” he said.

The Yankees play the Mets at Citi Field on Saturday and again on Sunday at Yankee Stadium, before wrapping up Spring Training with an exhibition game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Yankee Stadium on Monday. Opening Day against the Washington Nationals will reportedly happen at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., instead of alternate sites that were explored due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

First pitch for Saturday’s exhibition game against the Mets is set for 7:10 p.m. ET at Citi Field in Flushing NY.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Sports under Siege?

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TNT’s Charles Barkley says that the whole conversation of “social injustices have become a circus” (NBC Sports file photo)

Sports under Siege?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

In this unusual year of 2020 for weeks, the news/tease was that the Washington Redskins were about to change their logo/name of Redskins. While that has not happened yet, the biggest news from the Washington franchise was not their logo, but 15 ex-women employees claiming sexual harassment.

The NFL never seems to run out of scandals, a lot of them with absolutely nothing to do with play on the field. All kinds of surveys have shown that the NFL fans are not looking forward to more political demonstrations, but that seems to be inevitable. It would be interesting to see fan reaction and television audiences (if they ever play this year), the jury still out, but the NFL, as I said before seems to be making more news outside the field than on the field; and that is obviously not good. There is one thing for sure for fans, Roger Goodell is the most hated Commissioner in Sports.

MLB: The season is on schedule to begin their shortened version next Thursday July 23, when the Yankees face the Nationals on a nationally televised game on FOX and the Giants at LA Dodgers. The Oakland A’s open the 24th at home against the Los Angeles Angels. Every day players show they are positive for corona virus and earlier this week eleven (11) umpires opted out of the season, for personal reasons. With one week left until the start of the season, MVP Mike Trout has not made a decision if he is going to play or opt out.

But there is nothing normal about this baseball season. Yasiel Puig was to sign with the Braves but it never happened because it was contingent with his testing negative on a Covid-19 test, he tested positive. Yasiel, still a Free Agent. For baseball 2020 is as weird as ever, and I will not be surprised if there is more to come, because surprises now are expected.

All teams will play in empty stadiums. Some teams will pipe crowd noise into the park, traveling is limited to inter-divisional in each league as well against the opposite league. The players and owners through their negotiators ‘struck out’ of a deal to begin the season as scheduled back in March. MLB recently released their schedule for the 2021 season, maybe in a ‘spin’ to make everything look normal. But there is nothing normal about this season.

NBA: Is to reopen on July 30th, after a hiatus on March 11 because of the pandemic. A total of 22 teams returning to play. The league will allow players to wear jerseys with social justice messages, in collaboration with Nike the league apparel sponsor. Not everybody agrees with this. Hall of Fame player Charles Barkley said (quote) “racial injustice issues are turning into a circus.” About the legitimacy of a shortened season, Barkley added” “if everybody is healthy that is fine, but if everybody is sick with the virus and the Sacramento Kings or the New York Knicks win the championship, you know damn right it is tainted”.

The teams will play in Orlando, Florida at Disney World. The Golden State Warriors did not make it this season.

NHL. They plan to return to the ice with 24 teams competing for the Stanley Cup. Beginning with the best of five series, round robin games in two hub cities on August 1. The San José Sharks did not make this season. It seems that among all the four top pro-leagues in the country the NHL has been the most “quiet” during these turbulent times.

MLS: Already began their season.They are scoring goals. The San Jose Earthquakes have not lost a game yet they are 1-0-1 after their latest victory last Wednesday against the Vancouver Whitecaps 4-3. They now face the Chicago Fire in the bubble at Disney World on Sunday.

Stay well and stay tuned.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish radio talent for the Oakland A’s on 1010 KIQI San Francisco and at http://www.sportsradioservice.com