Author: Sports Radio Service

SJSU’s Josh Oliver named to John Mackey Tight End of the Week program

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By: Ana Kieu

San Jose State senior Josh Oliver was one of three FBS tight ends named in the weekly John Mackey Tight End of the Week program for games played through September 2.

Oliver and Utah State’s Dax Raymond were awarded the honorable mention statuses. Texas A&M’s Jace Sternberger received the top honor for the week.

In the SJSU season opener against UC Davis on August 30, Oliver caught a personal single-game-high eight passes for 86 yards. Though he did not score any touchdowns in the contest, six of his eight receptions resulted in Spartan first downs.

Oliver was the top pass-catching tight end among FBS players the first week of the season. He enters the September 8 SJSU at Washington State game ranked tied for 13th nationally in pass receptions per game at 8.00.

The John Mackey Award recognizes the top tight end in college football. Eight semifinalists will be named on November 15. Three finalists will be announced on November 22. The 2018 winner be revealed on December 5 and presented on December 6 at the Home Depot College Football Awards Red Carpet Show on ESPNU.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Giants’ skid hits four; drop second game to Rockies 6-2; no pitching relief nor hitting in sight

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On the Giants podcast with Marko:

Marko talks about the Giants’ tough 4-1 loss at AT&T Park last Sunday versus Noah Syndergaard and the New York Mets. Syndergaard won on his game, striking out a career-high 11 and going the distance and allowing only one Giants run.

The Giants lost to the Colorado Rockies on Monday night to open the series as Giants starter Madison Bumgarner got lit up for eight hits and seven runs (six earned), one walk, and six strikeouts. The Giants made a three-run comeback in the top of the ninth, but came up one short to lose 9-8 it as Rockies closer Wade Davis shut the door.

The Giants, who in the second game of their three-game series with the Rockies, dropped another tough one 6-2 at Coors Field on Tuesday night. The Giants continue the series at Coors Field Wednesday night with Giants starter Andrew Suarez (6-9) against the Rockies’ Antonio Senzatela (4-5).

Marko Ukalovic does the Giants podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Moronta blows lead in Giants’ 6-2 loss to Rockies

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By Jeremy Kahn

It seems that Dereck Rodriguez can never get a break after he pitches yet another great game in his rookie season.

Ryan McMahon hit a pinch-hit home run and Carlos Gonzalez hit a bases clearing triple, as the Colorado Rockies scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning on their way to a 6-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field on Monday night.

The Giants are 1-7 at Coors Field this season, and an abysmal 2-16 since the 2017 season, where the Giants went 64-98 and ended up 40 games behind the eventual National League Champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

Gorkys Hernandez hit a solo home run in the top of the seventh inning that gave the Giants a short-lived 2-1 lead, as he hit his second home run of the series and it looked like Rodriguez was going to get the win, but that did not happen.

Reyes Moronta came on to replace Rodriguez got the first out, but McMahon hit a 0-1 pitch over the center field wall to tie up the game. It was the second home run of the season for McMahon.

Then things got even worse, as Charlie Blackmon reached on an infield single, for his third hit of the game, and Moronta walked D.J. LeMahieu and Nolan Arenado to load the bases and then Gonzalez hit a triple to give the Rockies 5-2 lead. Gerardo Parra drove in the final run of the inning, as he walked with the bases loaded to give the Rockies the final margin of victory.

Rodriguez went six innings, allowing one run on six hits, walking one and striking out six, as he did not fare in the decision, despite the quality start.

The Giants took the lead in the top of the first inning, as Joe Panik singled to left field to score Gregor Blanco to give the Giants a short-lived 1-0 lead; however, David Dahl tied up the game in the bottom of the second inning with his ninth home run of the season.

German Marquez shut the Giants down after that, as he went 6.2 innings, as he struck out 11 and was in line for the loss after the Hernandez home run; however, McMahon changed all that with his solo home run. Chris Rusin retired the final batter of the seventh inning to get his second win of the season.

NOTES: Rookie Steven Duggar underwent season-ending shoulder surgery on Tuesday to repair a torn labrum in his left labrum that he suffered on August 28 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Jeff Samardzija was transferred to the 60-day disabled list with inflammation in his right shoulder, and rookie Abiatal Avelino got his contract purchased from Sacramento. Avelino was acquired from the New York Yankees in the Andrew McCutchen trade on Thursday.

UP NEXT: The Giants and Rockies conclude their series on Wednesday night at 5:40 pm PDT.

The Giants’ Andrew Suarez will be looking for his seventh win of the season, as he takes the mound on Wednesday. Suarez is also going for his third straight win, as he is coming off an outstanding game where he pitched seven innings of two-hit ball in a 7-0 victory over the New York Mets on Friday night.

The Rockies will send Antonio Senzatela to the mound, as he attempts to even his record at 5-5 on the season.

Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O: A’s drop 4.5 games back in wild card; 3.5 back in AL West after loss to Yankees

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On the A’s podcast with Charlie O:

The Oakland A’s are closing in on everybody. They’re 4 1/2 games back of the New York Yankees in the AL Wild Card race. The A’s are 3 1/2 games back and wouldn’t they love to win the division? The A’s are certainly getting a good mix of pitching from the starters and relievers.

The A’s will be introducing all their living Hall of Fame inductees: Rollie Fingers, Reggie Jackson, Rickey Henderson, Dennis Eckersley, and Helen Hunter (Jim Catfish Hunter’s widow) will be on hand on Wednesday night at the Oakland Coliseum for the tribute.

Charlie O does the A’s podcast each Tuesday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Television, Patio Areas and Draft Kings

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By: Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

There is little doubt that big money paid by television is responsible for some of the changes in major league baseball. A few years ago Time Warner (now Charter Spectrum) in Southern California paid the Los Angeles Dodgers $8.35 billion to carry their games for the next 20 years.

There are other big deals in other media markets like in 2012 when the Guggenheim Baseball Management Group bought the Dodgers for $2.15 billion for a record sale for a franchise. MLB Network pays a fortune for the rights to all games every day and night. I think they do a great job for all baseball aficionados who like to follow all the teams, not just their home teams.

I believe many of these moves and the big money by TV is driving the changes on today’s game. Earlier this season, YouTube and MLB announced their partnership in an attempt to offer fans other ways to watch baseball.

Games are also now broadcast live on Facebook. Someday, the bases will be electronic, which would mean no need for umpires, and the bases will respond to a “safe”or “out “call in this format: If the base lights up red, the runner was out; and if it lights up green, that runner is safe. It’s that simple.

Basically, traffic lights would be at each base, and the poles in left and right field will  also be the same, as there will be no umpires. This way, the game will go even faster, as there will be no need for replays. And, of course, the accuracy will be 100 percent. Keep in mind computers do not make mistakes.

I get it, they want to appeal to the younger audience and there is nothing wrong with that, but baseball used to be a game of strategy like chess. Managers’ arguments with umpires were usually fun and isn’t that what we want–fun for all? Today, there is little strategy, as it is all about the sabermetrics, launch angles, home run distances and strike outs. Few players try to hit the ball to the opposite side of the infield, where there is nobody standing with a glove in hand, and everybody wants to hit the ball in the air. It is players hitting .220 with 25 to 40 home runs every year. You can steal 30 bases during a full season and easily lead your league. Rickey Henderson doesn’t like that. You might see a “run and hit” or “hit and run” once every full moon. The bunt is extinct, which is fine with me because they do not even teach it, so why expect the players to execute it?

Today, we also have what they call the “millennial areas” in baseball parks around the country. These areas have the purpose of bringing more fans into the stadiums, as a patio area sets the scene for millennials to socialize, eat, drink and watch the game.

All businesses needs costumers. If your park is half empty, you just do not give tickets for free, just like a restaurant doesn’t give free food to people if it’s empty. MLB is about business first and the game second. It is also hilarious how the MLB has banned Pete Rose from the Hall of Fame due to gambling, yet they advertise Draft Kings, a popular destination for daily fantasy baseball players of all skill levels. They advertise Draft Kings to fans with the idea they can win millions of dollars. So they are encouraging young and old fans alike to bet on baseball and make money. I know the fans are not managing the games like Rose did, but it’s hypocritical to tell folks to make money betting on games, while preventing a man with the most hits, who is the current record holder with 4,256 hits to enter the Hall of Fame, is a mixed message to say the least.

But that is our culture right here. A lot of things are upside down, and like my father used to say, “Common sense is not common anymore.”

So I wonder about people who say they want their privacy, yet they go on different social media outlets and tell everybody what they are doing, where they are, what they did, what they are going to do, what airport they are headed to and so on; but they ask for their privacy. Like the song by the great Ray Charles, “What a Wonderful World.”

Listen to the A’s games in Spanish on KIQI 1010AM/990AM Bay Area, Sacramento, Stockton and the Valley. Also, listen on the A’s television network on the SAP line.

San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor: Shanahan’s plan in preparation for opener in Minnesota

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On the 49ers podcast with David:

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers head into Minnesota this Sunday for the 49ers’ opener. David discusses the team’s preparation and the advantage of playing in Minnesota in September rather than the frigid months of December

Going into the opener David takes a look at 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garopplolo’s preparation and will he come out of the shoot against the Vikings defense this Sunday?

Catch David each Tuesday for the 49ers podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Tuesday presser thoughts: Where do the SJSU Spartans go from here?

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By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose State Spartans had a much-needed day off, thanks to Labor Day. The Spartans’ football activities resumed Tuesday afternoon, as head coach Brent Brennan addressed the media members in his weekly press conference at the Simpkins Stadium Center.

As you should already know, SJSU has a lot of things which they must do this season. And, I mean a lot of things. In fact, multiple sources have blasted the Spartans’ football team for everything from Brennan’s lack of experience to Tyler Nevens’ injury. While both arguments may be true, things have gone overboard.

Chris Murray, a columnist at the Reno-Gazette Journal, recently published a 1,000 word column on how the Mountain West Conference should do something about San Jose State. Murray wrote, “I’VE COME CLOSE TO WRITING about his topic before but haven’t pulled the trigger. It felt a bit too soon and perhaps a touch mean. But the time has come. The Mountain West needs to seriously consider San Jose State’s future in its conference. Like I said, I’ve thought about this in the past but haven’t broached the subject. But after SJSU’s 44-38 season-opening loss to FCS school UC Davis–a team picked to finish ninth in the 13-team Big Sky–in which the Spartans allowed 589 yards and was flagged 12 times for 125 yards while turning it over three times, does SJSU really belong in the conference anymore?”

Murray has brought up some valid points, but I thought his opinion that SJSU should’ve never been invited to the MWC in the first place was a tad bit harsh, as the Spartans have upgraded their facilities–CEFCU Stadium and Simpkins Stadium Center–and commercialized its features to attract the younger generation.

But, right now, I’m going to focus on the question, “Where do the Spartans go from here?” and I promise you that I won’t be a jerk about it.

SJSU is 45-152 in games against the Pac-12 Conference. SJSU’s winning percentage against the Washington State Cougars is 36.6 and tied for the best, but it has been 12 years since SJSU has picked up a Pac-12 win. As a head coach, Brent Brennan is going to ensure the Spartans will run away with a win in Pullman by not doing the same things they did versus UCD.

Brennan told me, “First and foremost, we need to win the turnover battle, which we didn’t do last Thursday. Secondly, we gotta do a great job just being sound. I felt like we settled down in the second half and we played well offensively and defensively and we need to take a deep breath, walk out on that stage, and execute at a high level. Third, we just need to play in order to have a chance to win.”

The Spartan defense has given up 40 points or more in 10 of its last 14 games and 39.9 per game since the 2017 season opener. In Brennan’s opinion, there are a couple of guys who can take on larger roles this coming Saturday for the Spartan defense.

“I think there’s a couple of guys,” Brennan said. “I think the biggest part would be just upfront–how we handle it. Washington State has a big offensive line and their quarterback does a great job getting the ball out of his hands and they’re doing a nice job–they got some running backs who are mixing in some of the run game.”

“I think our defensive front has to show up. They need to be the ones that give us a chance to play sound defense and be able to be a little bit disruptive and get them off the field.”

It was pointed out that the Spartans haven’t put together a winning season in any of the major sports, including football, in Murray’s recent column for the Reno Gazette-Journal. Moreover, SJSU’s most recent winning season came in 2012 when they went 11-2 and defeated Bowling Green 29-20 in the Military Bowl. The past can’t be changed, but there are some things that the 2018 Spartans could do in order to prove the critics wrong.

“Well, I think we’re doing a lot of those things right now,” Brennan said. “And I think the process takes time. There’s a significant push from our institution to upgrade our facilities here, to increase our recruiting base, and to continue to raise the profile of our program. And that’s what we’re doing. As we do those things, we’ll continue to improve our football products on the field…The players are working really hard with that. Me and my coaching staff are working very hard with that. And I believe this can be a great place. I really do. And, even though the results aren’t instant, they never really are in situations like these. It takes time…As frustrating as that is for me, our fans, our students, our alumni, our faculty, all that–I promise you that lots of pieces are coming together and give us a chance to build a great program here.”

The Spartans take on the Cougars this Saturday at 8:00 pm PDT on the Pac-12 Network.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Stratton and Syndergaard engage in pitching duel, but Mets’ early hits hand the Giants a loss

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On the SF Giants podcast with Morris:

San Francisco Giants starter Chris Stratton on Sunday pitched what would be called a quality start, but Stratton and the Giants lost the game to the New York Mets 4-1. Stratton pitched six innings, two runs, three hits, a walk and two strikeouts.

Stratton gave up a two run-homer to Michael Conforto and a double to Todd Frazier. The Mets’ starter Noah Syndergaard pitched his first complete game and gave up one run and two hits, walked one, and struck out a season-high 11. The Giants start a six-game road trip in Colorado and open up a three-game series in Milwaukee on Friday. Two teams the Giants face that are both in the run for postseason play in a crucial road trip for the Giants, who are trying to get some day light for postseason themselves.

Morris does the Giants podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Piscotty’s inspiration on team is part of the reason for record run at postseason

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On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

Oakland A’s outfielder Stephen Piscotty’s home run total at 21 is a career-high and is truyly having a remarkable season at the plate. Piscotty was pronounced with 60 extra base hits in 2016 with the St. Louis Cardinals, but his hitting hit a slump in 2017 as Piscotty’s mom was suffering from ALS.

In the offseason, Piscotty worked out a deal moving from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Oakland A’s so he could be closer to his mother in Pleasanton, Calif. Piscotty cared for his mother after each home game, putting her to bed and feeding her.

Piscotty’s care for his mother Gretchen lasted until May at her passing and later Piscotty began to swing the bats with great production. The team was inspired and now the A’s are in the hunt for an AL West title.

Amaury does the A’s Spanish radio play-by-play, serves as vice president of the MLB Hispanic Heritage Museum Hall of Fame, and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NCAA Football podcast with Michelle Richardson: App State makes a valiant effort, but Penn State overcomes; Grier lights up the gridiron–429 yards and 5 touchdowns for Vols; plus more

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On the NCAA Football podcast with Michelle:

#1 No. 10 Penn State Nittany Lions held on to a 45-38 overtime win against Appalachian State as App State almost pulled off an upset.

#2 West Virginia got an 40-14 win past Tennessee. The game was delayed for a half hour due to lightning. Will Grier, the quarterback from the Vols, threw for five touchdowns and 429 yards.

#3 Auburn running back Jatarvious Whitlow ran for 10 yards in the fourth quarter to help Auburn with a touchdown with 6:15 left against the Washington Huskies in a 26-16 win. This big moment occurred just three weeks after Whitlow’s paternal grandmother, Sylvia Holloway, passed away on August 11 at the age of 64 after a five-year battle with cancer. It was a loss that shook Willow, who called Holloway “Grandma Sippy” and his “baby.” This was bigger than football, as Willow loved her more than anything else.

Michelle Richardson does NCAA Football podcast each week right here on http://www.sportsradioservice.com