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Headline Sports with Jessica Kwong: Yanks Cole doubtful for opening day; Ex-Met Strawberry recovering from heart attack; plus more news

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New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole walks to the field to face the Toronto Blue Jays in pre season baseball on Fri Mar 1, 2024 in Tampa Bay Fla (AP News photo)

Headline Sports With Jessica Kwong:

#1 New York Yankees pitching ace Gerrit Cole is having elbow problems and it’s reported he’s doubtful for opening day. Cole went under an MRI on Monday and his prognosis has not been determined. Yankees manager Aaron Boone has not determined who will start for the opener on Thu Mar 28th he’s looking at Carlos Rodon, Marcus Stroman, or Nestor Cortes.

#2 Former New York Mets outfielder Darryl Strawberry is recovering from a heart attack he suffered on Monday a day before his 62nd birthday. Met’s spokesman Jay Horwitz said that Strawberry is resting comfortably at SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital in St Charles MO.

#3 New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge underwent an MRI in his abdominal area tests showed there was no structural damage. Judge has not swung a bat yet but plans to towards the end of this week. Judge has participated in six Grapefruit League games so far. Judge struck out twice last Sunday in his most recent game.

#4 Boston Red Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito who pitched only two spring training games had to undergo right elbow surgery. Giolito had to travel to Alabama to get a second opinion from Dr. Jeffery R Dugas. Sox manager Alex Cora said he doesn’t know the extent of it yet but he’ll find out more soon. This is Giolito’s second major elbow surgery which was for Tommy John surgery Aug 31, 2021.

#5 San Francisco Giants pitcher Alex Cobb says his mind is not on his hip anymore. He says his arm feels good and said overall his pitching session was good. Cobb threw 32 pitches saying he felt tired but normal. This was Cobb’s second hip surgery. Manager Bob Melvin said that Cobb looks game ready and his recovery is remarkable.

Join Jessica for Headline Sports podcasts Wednesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Stanford Cardinal game wrap: Cardinal ends Cal’s season with 87-76 overtime win in Pac-12 tourney

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Stanford Cardinal forward Brandon Angel (23) celebrates after hitting a three pointer against the Cal Bears in overtime at the T Mobile Center in Las Vegas on Wed Mar 13, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Stanford enjoyed a big overtime period to upend California 87-76 in the opening round of the final Pac-12 men’s basketball postgame tournament at Las Vegas, Nev.

The game was tied 69-69 before the Cardinal (14-17) outscored Cal 18-7 in the extra period. The Bears were held scoreless for nearly 10 minutes in the second half, blowing an 18-point lead in the process.

Spencer Jones led Stanford with 21 points and seven rebounds, Maxime Raynaud was next with 20 points and a team-high 13 boards. Brandon Angel had 16 points and eight rebounds, and Kanaan Carlyle added 10 points.

Cal (13-19) was led by Jalen Cone with 18 points and five assists. Jaylon Tyler had 18 points, eight assists and seven rebounds, John Celestine was next for the Bears with 14 points and five rebounds, and Keonte Kennedy had 11 points and five boards.

Stanford outshot Cal from the field 42.6 percent (29 of 68) to 39.4 percent (28 of 71). The Bears hit 14 3-pointers, while the Cardinal made five shots behind the arc.

The Cardinal enjoyed an advantage at the free throw line, hitting 24 of 36; Cal made 6 of 9. Stanford outrebounded the Bears 58-39.

Cal was leading by four points with 33 seconds left in regulation. Spencer Jones made it a three-point game by making a free throw with 26.4 remaining. A Cal turnover led to a Michael Jones 3-pointer that tied the game at 69-69 with 19.6 seconds remaining.

After Stanford made a pair of 3s to open the overtime, the Bears never got their offense going in the extra period.

Stanford will meet Washington State in the quarterfinals on Thursday, while Cal ended its season with four straight losses.

San Jose State Spartans Lose In The First Round Of The Mountain West Tournament To Colorado State 72-62

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San Jose State Spartans were eliminated from the Mountain West Tournament at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas after losing to the Colorado State Rams on Wed Mar 13, 2024 (photo by San Jose State Spartans)

Wednesday, March 13th, 2024

By Troy Ewers

It’s the first round of the Mountain West Conference tournament and the San Jose State Spartans are in Sin City taking on the Colorado State Rams. Last game for the Spartans lost to No. 22 Utah State.

Alvaro Cardenas recorded his fourth double-double of the season to lead San José State (9-22, 2-16 Mountain West) in a 90-70 loss to Utah State (25-5, 13-4 Mountain West) on Wednesday night. Unfortunately for the Spartans they were one and done after this first tournament game losing 72-62 in Las Vegas at the Thomas and Mack Center.

The 1st Half for the Spartans started off very hot, but Colorado State went on a run to end the half that gave them a nice lead. 34-29 at half, Colorado State on top.

The second half had a lot of Spartans fans thinking they had a chance to move on to the next round. Cardenas and MJ Amey Jr. were the leading scorers all game for SJSU, but the gap was never closed. As for CSU, they were led by two big performances from Joel Scott, who had 18 points and Isaiah Stevens who recorded a double-double.

CSU despite not shooting great from the three point line won by 10, 72-62. Almost all of CSU’s points came from the paint or mid range and it was all they needed to beat a SJSU team who surprised a lot of people in this tournament game. 

The season isn’t over for Colorado State as they face off against the Nevada Wolfpack in round 2 of the tournament, but for Tim Miles and the Spartans, the season has come to an end. 9-23, with a 2-17 Mountain West record is nothing to brag about, but guys like Amey Jr, Cardenas, and Tibet Gorener had a highlight season where they could hang their hat on going into their off seasons.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Baseball In Cuba From Professional to Amateur – Not a Good Transformation

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A photograph of probably the best shortstop in Oakland A’s history who deserves Hall of Fame induction but has been mostly forgotten. Bert Campaneris a consecutive three time World Champion and Cuban native someone whose number 19 jersey should be retired. (photo from Wikipedia)

Baseball In Cuba: From Professional to Amateur – Not a Good Transformation

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Cuba once led Latin America and most countries in the world after the United States as far as the game of baseball is concerned. It was introduced in Cuba in 1864 by American students returning from the United States. History tells us that the first official game in Cuba happened some ten years later in the province of Matanzas at Estadio Palmar del Junco.

Palmar del Junco is considered the oldest active baseball stadium in the world. Since then, Cuba has been passionate about the game of ‘béisbol’ like few. As a young teenager, I remember when baseball changed forever in Cuba in the early 1960’s.

Palmar del Junco is a town in Matanzas on (Carretera Central de Cuba), Reparto Pueblo Nuevo. This is the town where baseball has its roots, on the largest island in the Caribbean. People played this great game with passion. Dagoberto Blanco Campaneris, aka Campy, was born here.

When I see Campy at A’s reunions, I remind him where he was born, and he smiles and is proud of his Cuban roots. He was one of the best shortstops in baseball, winning three consecutive World Series with the “Swing A’s”, Oakland A’s 1972-3-4. .

As a young teenager, I remember when baseball changed forever in Cuba in the early 1960’s. In the Cuban Winter League, major league players like Orestes Miñoso, Camilo Pascual, Pedro Ramos, Miguel Cuellar, Mike Fornieles, Luis Tiant and many others played in Cuba after they ended the regular season in the major leagues.

All that became history when the Cuban revolution and its government declared themselves a Marxist-Leninist system of government. For decades, Cuban players traveled freely from Cuba to the US.

But that all ended when Cuba’s government declared itself a Communist State, where the government-controlled “everything.” The freedom of free ownership and the means of production ended for everybody on the island, including Baseball, Cuba’s passionate pastime. Cuba’s longest-running dictatorship took over baseball and affected the game.

Suddenly, there was no more professional baseball; everybody that played in Cuba was an amateur because what the Cuban government paid their players was less than what major league players got per diem when they traveled on the road.

For decades now, under the Cuban system, the Cuban players that make it to the major leagues are defectors. This was not a good transformation because the people of Cuba were always involved with the Cuban Winter League and Major League Baseball, following their heroes in Cuba and the US year-round.

Yoenis Céspedes born in Cuba got his opportunity in 2012 with the Oakland A’s. He later signed a $100 million contract with the New York Mets.

Quote: “In Cuba I didn’t even have a bicycle” -Yoenis Céspedes.

This transformation in Cuba regarding baseball is one that I lived through as a young man and one that I will never forget because it represents the difference between Democracy and Tyrannical communism. American tourists who travel to Cuba and come back bragging about baseball on the island did not see this transformation because I was born and lived in Cuba, and no tourist who spends a week in Havana is going to tell me anything that I do not know about Cuban Baseball.

Golden State Warriors podcast with David Zizmor: Warriors tip off against Mavericks tonight in Dallas

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Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski (2) goes for the basket against the San Antonio Spurs forward Zach Collins (left) in the second half at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio (AP News photo)

On Golden State Warriors Podcast with David:

#1 Dave, the Golden State Warriors (34-30) and San Antonio Spurs (14-51) completed a home at home with the Warriors losing the first game at Golden State 126-113 and taking the second game in San Antonio 112-102 on Monday night. Was this the tale of two different Warriors teams or it just boils down to Stephen Curry being out of the line up.

#2 Top scorers for the Warriors on Monday Jonathan Kuminga with 22 points and Klay Thompson with 21. Talk about Kuminga’s role and coming off the bench seems to be much better for Thompson.

#3 Up next for Golden State the Dallas Mavericks (37-28) who are in eighth place in the Western Conference. The Mavericks have won five of their last ten and are on a three game win streak. How do you see this one playing out tonight at 5:30 pm PDT?

Join David Zizmor for exclusive coverage on the Golden State Warriors podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

After 8 years of waiting Kings finally defeat Bucks 129-94; Sacramento win ends 15 game skid against Milwaukee

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Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (10) scores on the Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) in the first half at Golden 1 in Sacramento on Tue Mar 12, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO–The story heading into Tuesday night’s Kings game was the same as usual this year. The Kings were coming off a tough loss at home in their previous game—the Kings loss to the Rockets at Golden One Center on Sunday afternoon.

On Tuesday, the Kings desperately needed to get back on track to maintain pace in the play-in tournament standings. The Kings also wanted to climb in the standings to reach the sixth seed in the regular NBA playoffs. The Kings welcomed Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks with a 7 PM PST tip-off on Tuesday. The Kings De’Aaron Fox scored 29 points to lead the Kings in the 129-94 win.

GAME RESULT: In the first quarter, the Kings started with good intensity on the defensive end of the floor. The Kings defense was leading to good shots on the offensive side. The Kings outscored the Bucks in the first quarter 38-30 to take the quick lead. Harrison Barnes started the game hot, leading the Kings with nine points. The Kings would look to keep up the intensity in the second quarter.

In the second quarter, the Kings continued to press the gas. They outscored the Bucks 37-26 and extended their lead over them going into halftime to 75-56. The Kings were led in the first half by their defensive pressure on the Bucks.

Making the Bucks make tough shots and getting open looks on the other end is always a good recipe. The Kings leading scorer at halftime was Malik Monk, who had 17 points. Antetokounmpo led the Bucks in the first half with 22 points.

In the third quarter, the Kings gave up a bit of ground but held firm against the Bucks. The Bucks attempted to make a couple of runs on Kings, but they didn’t make up ground. The Bucks outscored the Kings 22-20 in the fourth quarter to inch closer. The Kings would lead the game 95-78 going into the final quarter of action. Vegas favored the Kings by 1.5 points to start the game. It appears that was a generous line for the Bucks.

In the fourth quarter, the Kings finished off the Bucks in a blowout fashion, emptying the bench as the quarter came to a close. The Kings would defeat the Bucks. The Kings outscored the Bucks in the fourth quarter 34-16.

It was really never a game on Tuesday, as the Kings got up early and never let up. It was a big win for the Kings on the first night of a back-to-back. The Kings would look to keep the momentum going as the Lakers come to town on Wednesday. The Kings were led by Fox, who scored 29 points in the game. Giannis led the Bucks with 30 points in defeat.

Note: Domantas Sabonis recorded another double-double during the game on Tuesday night. It was his Sacramento Kings record-breaking 47th straight double-double.

Up Next: The Kings stay home for a second night of a back-to-back on Wednesday at Golden One Center. The LA Lakers will travel for a 7 PM PST tip-off.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: A’s meeting with Coliseum officials still waiting to be put on the docket

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The Tropicana Hotel and Casino in discussions with the Oakland A’s and the Hotel’s umbrella parent company Gaming and Leisure Properties are hoping to get A’s owner John Fisher’s financial obligation for the construction share settled. The Tropicana will stop taking reservations after the first week of April in preparation of demoing the hotel in April 2025. (photo by the Nevada Independent)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 No date mentioned yet when Oakland A’s team president David Kaval and other A’s officials plan to meet with the Oakland Coliseum Joint Powers to discuss the A’s extension beyond the 2024 season.

#2 The Oakland Roots and Oakland Ballers have expressed serious interest in playing at the Coliseum in 2025 and beyond if the A’s end up playing in Sacramento or Salt Lake City. There is still time to figure this out but the A’s do have first choice if they do plan to extend the lease after this season.

#3 In an interview with NBC Sports California A’s manager Mark Kotsay said he would never tell his player’s what to say when they are questioned by the media about the move to Las Vegas or the stadium designs or whether they prefer Vegas or Oakland.

#4 A’s owner John Fisher financing for Tropicana park: Fisher’s part of the construction costs are as follows, the A’s need construction plans and a timeline for the FAA as the park’s lighting and layout will front the Las Vegas Airport, private financing and development plans, a lease agreement, and a benefits package to present to the Las Vegas community.

#5 Amaury in your view are the A’s any closer to moving to Las Vegas than they were when the Nevada State Legislature had approved the public funding back in June. Do you see any road blocks here in March that could interfere with the A’s leaving Oakland?

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento Kings podcast with Tony Renteria: It doesn’t get easier Kings host Bucks tonight

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Houston Rockets guard Aaron Holiday (0) drives on the Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox (5) and center Alex Len (25) in first half action at Golden 1 in Sacramento on Sun Mar 10, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Kings podcast with Tony R:

#1 The Houston Rockets in the Sacramento King’s last game had Fred VanVleet who led in scoring with 22 points and it helped get a 112-104 win for the Rockets at Golden 1 in Sacramento.

#2 Despite the win the Rockets lost their leading scorer Alperen Sengun who left with a right knee and ankle injury.

#3 Sengun had a bad landing while defending the Kings Domantas Sabonis with a minute left in the game. Sengun was in immediate pain after landing and had to leave the floor in wheelchair.

#4 On defense the Kings had a hard time stopping the Rockets as seven Rocket players finished in double figures. The Kings remain in seventh place in the Western Conference they have won six of their last ten games. Do you look at the game against the Rockets as just one bad game or they’re starting struggle at this juncture.

#5 The Kings host the Milwaukee Bucks tonight at Golden 1. The Bucks are second in the Eastern Conference at 42-43 they’ve won seven of their last ten games. No doubt Milwaukee can be a handful how do you see tonight’s contest?

Tony Renteria does the Sacramento Kings podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants release J.D. Davis to clear 3B job for Chapman

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Former San Francisco Giants third baseman JD Davis rounds the bases during an exhibition game against the Texas Rangers in Scottsdale AZ on Fri Mar 1, 2024. Davis was released by the Giants on Mon Mar 11, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants released third-baseman J.D. Davis to clear the way for the recently-signed Matt Chapman to be the team’s everyday third-baseman.

This move was inevitable after the Giants signed Matt Chapman to be their everyday third-baseman on March 3. The Giants placed Davis on waivers on Saturday, and then outright released him Monday. This was despite the fact that Davis was 6-for-15, hitting .400, this spring.

There was also some drama between the Giants and Davis over the off-season. Davis took the Giants to arbitration, and while the Giants offered him $6.55 million for the 2024 Season, Davis was awarded $6.9 million by the three-person arbitration panel.

“We negotiate[ed] all of our arbitration cases in good faith, and tried to reach an agreement with all of our arbitration-eligible players, [Davis] included,” said Giants President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi. “Sometimes it happens; sometimes it doesn’t.”

Due to a clause in the Collective Bargaining Agreement between Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association, the Giants will not have to pay Davis the $6.9 million that he won in arbitration. The clause stipulates that players are guaranteed the pay in negotiated contracts, but are not guaranteed the pay in contracts decided by arbitration until Opening Day.

With the release coming prior to Opening Day, the Giants will not have to pay Davis the $6.9 million, but they may have to pay him over $1.1 million in termination pay. The CBA states that termination pay applies to players who “failed to exhibit sufficient skill or competitive ability.” With Davis’ .400 spring thus far, the Giants stand a good chance of not having to pay Davis the $1.1 million-plus.

After Chapman signed with the Giants, it was speculated that Davis could have been traded, but with the Giants unable to find a suitable deal for him, they opted to release him instead.

The Giants acquired Davis from the New York Mets on Aug. 2, 2022 at the Trade Deadline in exchange for Darin Ruf. Davis hit .263 with eight home runs in 49 games for the Giants in 2022. He then hit .248 with 18 home runs last season, but he struck out 152 times.

Teams that are looking for a power bat could benefit from signing Davis, who will now become a free agent.

Other Notes:

With Opening Day in San Diego on March 28 now two and a half weeks away, the Giants are making cuts.

Among the cuts was Heliot Ramos, who at one point was not just one of the Giants’ top prospects, but one of the highest-ranked prospects throughout Baseball. However, Ramos has struggled mildly in recent years, especially over the last two seasons.

Ramos was called up by the Giants to start their second game of the 2022 Season against the Miami Marlins on April 9. Ramos went 2-for-3 in that game, and scored a run. However, over the rest of that stint, as well as three others later in the season, Ramos did not record another hit, and ended up hitting .100 in nine games.

Last season, Ramos saw a bit more time with the Giants, and he appeared in 25 games. However, his stats did not improve the way the Giants would have liked, as he hit .179.

Ramos came into camp this spring hoping to bounce back, and he hit a home run against Jordan Hicks in live batting practice. However, once games began, Ramos’ struggles continued, as he was just 2-for-16 in nine games.

The Giants have some competition for bullpen spots this spring. With Camilo Doval set to begin his third season as the Giants’ closer, as well as Taylor and Tyler Rogers set to precede Doval late in games, there are battles for other spots in the bullpen.

The Giants cut left-handed relief pitcher Erik Miller, who despite yet having to have his major league debut, was considered a candidate to make the team. Miller appeared in three games, and gave up four runs, but just one earned run in three innings.

Manager Bob Melvin has stated that he would like one more left-handed reliever to accompany Taylor Rogers in the bullpen. Ethan Small, who is on the 40-man roster, remains an option. Juan Sanchez, and the veteran Amir Garrett, who are in camp non-roster invitees, are also potential options.

While the Giants have not announced their rotation, Logan Webb is set to make his third-straight opening day start, and Kyle Harrison, the Giants’ top prospect, is set to be the number-two starter.

Webb and Harrison talked to NBC Sports Bay Area. The two starters discussed working out together over the off-season in Arizona, as well as how despite being two completely different pitchers, have the same attitude when they compete and take the mound.

With Jordan Hicks being transitioned from a reliever into a starter, and Alex Cobb and Robbie Ray not set to join the rotation until later in the season, Webb and Harrison are expected to be the Giants’ top two starters.

Harrison was called up late last season on Aug. 22, when the Giants were in Philadelphia. He gave up two earned runs over three and a third innings against the Phillies in his major league debut. That was followed by an 11-strikeout, six-and-a-third-inning shutout performance against the Cincinnati Reds in his home debut at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Aug. 28.

Harrison made five more starts for the Giants, including the final game of the season against the Dodgers on Oct. 1, in which he pitched five shutout innings, but also hit three Dodger batters.

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Barracuda split in Texas; Face off with Rockford next Sat and Sun

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The San Jose Barracuda who split two games with the Texas Stars at Cedar Rapids TX at H-E-B Arena (San Jose Barracuda photo)

On the San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko:

#1 Another tough loss for the San Jose Barracuda (17-27-8-2) this time a three goal beating at the hand of the Texas Stars (26-22-3-2) at the H-E-B Center in Cedar Park Tx.

#2 The Barracuda scored three goals we’ll take a look at each of them starting with Ozzy Wiesblatt’s. Wiesblatt’s was the only goal for San Jose in the first period at 7:28.

#3 Barracuda defenseman Nikolai Knyzhov scored the second goal of the season for San Jose this one coming at 14:08 in the second period. Knyzhov was overdue it may have been not enough but Knyzhov has to be glad to get that second goal.

#4 Marko, how about the season that forward Scott Sabourin has had he scored the last Barracuda goal of the game at 19:31 for his 16th of the season. Sabourin no doubt has been a silver lining for the Barracuda this season?

#5 The Barracuda play the third game of this road trip against the Rockford Ice Hogs (25-21-5-2) next Sat Mar 16 at 5:00pm PDT and Sun Mar 17th at BMO Harris Bank Arena Rockford IL. The Barracuda don’t get to see the Ice Hogs too often?

Join Marko for the San Jose Barracuda podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com