That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: US Women’s World Cup Champions? Equal Pay!

Photo credit: @marceloclaure

By: Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

Yes, the FIFA Women’s World Cup champion US women’s soccer team should get equal pay like their male counterparts, but what they have to do is for their attorneys to re-negotiate their contracts. However, when it comes to this recent international World Cup, the ruling organization is FIFA (International Federation of Association Football) and FIFA has been a very corrupt organization for a long time.

FIFA would say that the Men’s World Cup is watched by half of the world, while the Women’s World Cup is not. While that is true, here in the US, the latest World Cup where the US women won their fourth World Cup accumulated a total rating bonanza for the FOX network. The last time they won the Women’s World Cup four years ago, they had an impressive 25.4 million viewers, making it the most watched soccer game in American TV history.
Yesterday, 14.3 million viewers watched the 2-0 win over the Netherlands in Lyon, France for the now four-time World Cup champs, which is up 22% over the 2018 Men’s World Cup Final.

The US women’s team that just won have a great argument to make, especially here in the US, to get paid as much as the US men’s team. This however, will be played out in a legal arena as attorneys are already involved. Today, this female championship team today has great leverage and enjoys tremendous popularity in this country. I cannot see why they cannot get equal pay.

When it comes to fútbol (soccer) in World Cup competition, the male teams always show higher ratings than their female counterparts. That is the whole world. In some countries where soccer is king, women still have to walk behind men, they are prohibited to get an education, and in some countries, they are not even allowed to drive.

But we are different that the rest of the world, so my prediction is that the US women’s team have an excellent opportunity to finally have equal pay and this is their best time for that argument.

Regardless of whether or not they get equal pay, we must congratulate them for a great World Cup. New York will welcome them with a ticker tape parade this Wednesday.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Hendriks and Chapman represent A’s at the All-Star game; Each player thrilled to be there

Photo credit: @nypost

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg:

#1 The Oakland A’s Liam Hendriks gets the call to represent the Oakland A’s after the Tampa Bay Rays’ Charlie Morton is a scratch. Morton, who pitched on Sunday, was not available for the All-Star game because he only got a day’s rest.

#2 Hendriks posted a 3-0 record (1.27 ERA). Hendriks is fourth in strike outs (58) and fifth in innings pitched (46.2).

#3 The Oakland A’s third baseman Matt Chapman took Sunday off to rest up to play in the All-Star game in Cleveland. Chapman hit .265, 21 home runs, 52 RBIs, 59 runs scored.

#4 Chapman will participate in the Home Run Derby. He has been hitting quite a few of them during the season and should be a great challenger on Monday night.

Jerry does the Oakland A’s podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Will Smith had an outstanding first half, represent Giants at All-Star game

Photo credit: @sfgiants_fanly

On the Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 Last Wednesday Giants reliever Will Smith and All-Star team representative pitched in relief against the San Diego Padres pitched an inning, struck out two and gave up one hit, to get his 23rd save

#2 Smith’s save looked easy in that Wednesday ninth inning. He went right through it and many of his saves have been that way.

#3 Smith has pitched so well this season he has yet to get his first blown save. He has been money in the bank closing ball games.

#4 The other report on Smith is he’s being showcased. He pitched on Saturday in relief at Oracle Park on Saturday pitching one inning, giving up one hit. He didn’t get the save, but got of the Giants out of the inning.

#5 In the last seven games, he pitched in relief he’s saved four games. Smith is a very focused reliever and doesn’t take too much time to get out of an inning.

Morris does the Giants podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com also is covering the All Star game in Cleveland

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Former Cleveland second baseman Roberto Alomar honored at All-Star game

photo from Amaury Pi-Gonzalez: The Major League Baseball Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame sign is on display at the Huntington Convention Center in Cleveland site of the 90th All Star Game this week.

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary:

The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame is in Cleveland, Ohio, for the 90th MLB All-Star Game, and we will be inducting to our Hall of Fame, Cleveland Indians second baseman Roberto Alomar, who is 51 years old and born in Ponce, Puerto Rico.

Our exhibit will be at the Huntington Convention Center at the MLB All-Star Game in Cleveland.

Longoria wins it on home run in seventh SF wins 1-0

photo from sfgate.com: San Francisco Giants’ Evan Longoria, left, is congratulated by third base coach Ron Wotus (23) after hitting a solo home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the seventh inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Sunday, July 7, 2019.

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-Evan Longoria ended two things against Jack Flaherty with one swing of the bat.

Longoria hit a solo home run with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, breaking up both a shutout and a no-hitter and it helped the San Francisco Giants to a 1-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals before a crowd of 33,841 at Oracle Park.

This was only the third shutout of the season for the Giants and the first since April 24 against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.

On the afternoon, the Giants only got two hits, and this was the fewest hits in a game where they won since a two-hit over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on March 30, 2018.

Flaherty was throwing a perfect game until he walked Alex Dickerson to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning.

After the Longoria home run, Dickerson singled to left, but then Flaherty got Stephen Vogt to fly out to Dexter Fowler and then Kevin Pillar lined out to Paul DeJong to end the inning.

It was the 12th home run of the season for Longoria, and his fifth in his last six games. During the six-game stretch, Longoria is hitting .429 (9-for-21) with seven extra base hits (two doubles and five home runs), 10 RBI and eight runs scored.

Longoria is no stranger to breaking up no-hitter, as it was the fourth time in his career that he broke up a no-hitter in the 7th inning or later.

With DeJong on first base in the top of the seventh inning, Paul Goldschmidt hit a line drive into the right-center gap; however, Pillar flew through into the air and made a fantastic catch that kept the game scoreless.

The Longoria home run made a winner out of Jeff Samardzija, who pitched a tremendous game, as he went seven innings, scattering four hits and striking out two on his way to picking up his sixth win of the season.

This was the first time since August 28 and September 2, 2017 that Samardzija went seven innings with two or fewer runs. That was also the last time he pitched at seven innings in consecutive starts.

It was a tough loss for Flaherty, who also went seven innings, allowing one run on just two hits, walking one and striking out six and saw his record fall to 4-6 on the season.

Sam Dyson pitched one inning, allowing one hit and struck out three. Closer Will Smith came on in the top of the ninth inning and despite giving up a single to Goldschmidt, he picked up his 23rd save in 23 chances, as Fowler grounded into a double play to end the game.

Over his last 19 outings, Smith has not allowed a run in 17 of those games and is possessing a 0.96 earned run average (two earned runs in 18.2 ip) with 30 strikeouts and opposing hitters are hitting .156 against him.

NOTES: Pillar also drove in the only run of the game on April 11, when he homered against the Colorado Rockies in a 1-0 Giants victory that made a winner out of Samardzija.

The Giants are now 18-9 in one-run games and 4-7 in final games of the series.

This was the seventh time this season that the Cardinals have been shutout, and it was the first time that the Cardinals have lost a series to the Giant since May 19-21, 2017 at Busch Stadium.

UP NEXT: Following the All-Star break, the Giants begin a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night.

Shaun Anderson will open the series against the Brewers at Miller Park on Friday night, followed by Madison Bumgarner and Tyler Beede. The Brewers starter has yet to be determined.

Oakland A’s podcast with Joey Friedman: A’s chipping away at Astros first place lead in AL West

Khris Davis and the A’s came into Seattle for their series with the Mariners on a roll. (AP)

Oakland A’s podcast with Joey F:

#1 Joey tells us about A’s catcher Chris Herrmann’s big day on 4th of July last Thursday a grand slam, four hits and a run scored it was the last time Herrmann was in the line up but he made the best of it.

#2 The A’s are going well right now winning four of their last seven games. They’ve won two out of three from the Los Angeles Angels, A’s won two out of three from the Minnesota Twins, and on their trip to Seattle the A’s took the first game 5-2 and lost the second game on Saturday 6-3.

#3 The A’s have been getting pitching even in the loss on Saturday they got some substance from their starter Tanner Anderson who went 4.2 innings, nine hits, one earned run with two walks and three strikeouts.

#4 You can never tell what can happen on any given day in baseball the Mariners are a last place team but they battled A’s on Saturday and scored run in the middle innings but the A’s on the other hand are chipping away at the Houston Astros seven game lead in the AL West.

#5 A’s and Mariners conclude their three game series on Sunday the A’s will start Daniel Mengden (3-1 ERA 4.67) the Mariners starter Matt Carasiti (0-0 ERA 1.80). This will be the last game ending the first half of the season before the All Star game in Cleveland on Tuesday night.

Joey does the A’s podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB podcast with Daniel Dullum: SF’s Bumgarner x-rays prove negative; Cleveland’s Carrasco diagnosed with leukemia; plus more

sfgate.com photo: Madison Bumgarner exits in the third inning against St. Louis. The back of his left arm was hit by a liner in the first inning.

On the MLB podcast with Daniel Dullum:

1 MadBum hit by line drive, X-rays negative

2 Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco reveals leukemia diagnosis; Angels mourn loss of Tyler Skaggs

3 Throwback Expos Day divides Montrealers and Nats fans

4 Phillies’ Odubel Herrera suspended for season, violated MLB domestic violence policy

5 Nationals’ Max Scherzer won’t be pitching in the All-Star Game, replaced by … ex-A’s ace, the Reds’ Sonny Gray

Daniel is on for the MLB podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Bumgarner leaves after getting hit on elbow in Giants’ win

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — Madison Bumgarner was not around when Austin Slater gave the San Francisco Giants the lead for good.

Bumgarner was forced to leave the game after the bottom of the second inning, as he was drilled on the left forearm by a Jose Martinez line drive that went for an infield single.

X-Rays came back negative, and Bumgarner ended up with a left elbow contusion.

Slater gave the Giants the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, as he hit an opposite field grand slam and the Giants defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 8-4 before a crowd of 32,487 at Oracle Park.

Pablo Sandoval led off the inning with a single, then after a Brandon Crawford strikeout, Kevin Pillar came up with his second hit of the night. Joe Panik then reached on an error when Tyler ONeill lost the ball in the lights, and finally, Slater gave the Giants the lead on his first career grand slam.

Bumgarner went just two innings, allowing one run, scattering four hits and striking out two, as he did not fare in the decision.

Miles Mikolas lasted just four innings for the Cardinals, as he allowed five runs (four earned), six hits and struck out 6; however, he lost for the ninth time this season.

The Cardinals took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, as Tommy Edman led off the game with a single, and then Martinez lined the ball off of Bumgarner’s left forearm for an infield single.

Paul Goldschmidt gave the Cardinals the lead, as he singled to score Edman from second base.

Like the opener, the Giants got on the board in the bottom of the first inning, as Brandon Belt singled to lead off the inning and eventually scored on a Sandoval sacrifice fly.

The bullpen was solid for the Giants, as Sam Dyson, Reyes Moronta, Mark Melancon, and Will Smith went the final seven innings to secure the victory for the Giants.

Dyson went two innings, allowing just one hit and raised his record to 3-0 on the season.

Home plate umpire Mike Everitt, like Bumgarner, was forced to leave the game in the sixth inning, as he took a foul ball off the mask on a line drive hit by O’Neill. Three umpires finished the game.

Mike Yastrzemski got in on the hit parade in the bottom of the seventh inning, as he singled, then stole his first major league base and then scored on an Alex Dickerson triple to right-center field. Sandoval then picked up his second hit of the night, as he smashed a two-run home run off of Tyler Webb.

It was the 11th home run of the season by Sandoval, and his first as a right-handed batter since hitting one off of Caleb Smith of the Miami Marlins on June 11, 2018, at Marlins Park.

Things got interesting in the top of the eighth inning, as the Cardinals scored three runs off a Goldschmidt three-run home run off the Arcade Garage in right field to get the Cardinals within four runs. Tony Watson, who gave up the three-run home run to Goldschmidt was able to get out of the inning without allowing any more damage.

That was the 13th career home run for Goldschmidt at Oracle Park, the most by any active opposing player in the major leagues

Closer Will Smith was summoned in the top of the ninth inning and gave up a pinch-hit single to Yadier Molina, however, he then got Edman to ground into a force play and then Martinez grounded into a double play to end the small rally and the game.

NOTES: Slater is the 22nd Giants player to hit a pinch-hit grand slam since the team moved to San Francisco in 1958.

Rich Aurilia was the last Giants player to hit a pinch-hit grand slam which came on June 12, 2003, against the Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park.

Slater is only the second Giants player to hit a pinch-hit grand slam at Oracle Park since it opened in 2000, and Russ Davis hit it on August 21, 2000, against the Florida Marlins

Joey Bart and Heliot Ramos will represent the Giants at the Sirius/XM Futures Game at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Sunday afternoon. Bart is hitting .242 with six home runs and 21 RBI on the season in just 33 games for the San Jose Giants, while Ramos, who is also playing for San Jose, is hitting .298 with nine home runs and 29 RBI on the season in 52 games.

Bart missed a considerable amount of time with a broken left arm that was suffered on April 16, when he was hit by a pitch against the Stockton Ports at Municipal Stadium.

UP NEXT: Jeff Samardzija closes out the first half on Sunday afternoon, as he takes the Oracle Park mound and will face Jack Flaherty, who will take the ball for the Cardinals in their final game before the All-Star break.

Earthquakes never say tie in 1-0 shutout over Real Salt Lake

Photo credit: @SJEarthquakes

By: Ana Kieu

The San Jose Earthquakes had looked to bounce back at home with a win over Real Salt Lake on Saturday night. The Quakes celebrated Japantown Neighborhood Night presented by Wells Fargo.

The Quakes’ starting lineup featured Daniel Vega, Marcus Lopez, Florian Jungwirth, Guram Kashia, Tommy Thompson, Judson, Jackson Yueill, Cristian Espinoza, Magnus Eriksson, Vako, and Chris Wondolowski.

Photo credit: @SJEarthquakes

San Jose was off to a great start, thanks to early chances from the get-go. The Quakes looked positive and were assertive in the possession department. Moreover, Cristian Espinoza’s meg in the 10th minute justified that he was having a home field day.

Judson made a notable kick in the 41st minute. However, the Brazilian midfielder’s kick was blocked by Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando.

San Jose and Real Salt Lake played to a scoreless tie at the end of the first half. Shots were even at six apiece. Moreover, the Quakes dominated in possession, passes, and pass accuracy.

Florian Jungwirth blocked a shot in the 52nd minute. Also, Daniel Vega came in clutch with a few noteworthy saves of his own, like the one in the 54th minute.

San Jose’s first substitution occurred in the 66th minute. Shea Salinas entered the match for Marcus Lopez.

San Jose’s second substitution occurred in the 71st minute. Paul Marie entered the match for Tommy Thompson.

San Jose’s third and final substitution occurred in the 74th minute. Danny Hoesen entered the match for Judson.

San Jose put up offensive signals in the final minutes of the match by knocking on the door in the 80th minute, having Vako take down a Real Salt Lake defender in the 85th minute, and most importantly, Danny Hoesen scoring the game-winning goal in the 93rd minute. The Quakes won 1-0.

Fans in attendance also won with a free Jumbo Jack with a large drink purchase at Jack in the Box. Jack in the Box offers some of the most unhealthy items among fast food restaurants, but hey, you can’t turn down free food. Plus it’s pretty cool to see Jack in a Quakes uniform and juggling a soccer ball with his knees.

The Quakes head to Dignity Health Tennis Center to take on the LA Galaxy on Saturday, July 12 at 8:00 pm.

MLB podcast with Matt Harrington: Seinfeld sidearms first pitch at Citi Field, what’s up with that?; Padres-Dodgers play rival type ball; plus more

Photo credit: @mets_fanly

On the MLB podcast with Matt:

#1 Friday was Seinfeld night at Citi Field and there he was the star of sitcom’s all-time best show Jerry Seinfeld getting ready to throw out the first ball and he did so with a side arm pitch that ended up as a strike. He impressed the crowd so much he ended up getting an ovation and tipped his hat.

#2 No matter where the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers are in the standings, they both play rival type ball and get involved in a deadlock on Friday night which the Padres won it 3-2 during an 7.1 earthquake. There was no exception Pads and Dodgers playing to a close contest.

#3 With all the home runs hit this season in the show, will the big build up lead up to some bombs hit during the All-Star Game home run derby in Cleveland this Monday night. Lots of hit leaders preparing to enter the derby.

#4 The Angels are a team on a mission since the sudden death of their late teammate Tyler Skaggs. The team has been on a roll, the Angels have won six of their last ten games and trying to make a climb out of fourth place in the AL West.

#5 Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees are starting to pull away from second place Tampa Bay and are now 8 1/2 games in front in the AL East and Judge powered his 11th home run on Friday night against the mighty Houston Astros.

Catch Matt every Saturday for the MLB podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com