Author: Sports Radio Service

San Francisco Giants podcast with Troy Ewers and Vince Cestone: Sabol adds to offensive punch during Giants win streak; SF starting DeSclafani tonight

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San Francisco Giants right hander Anthony DeSclafani shown here delivering in 2022 will get the start for Wed Apr 26, 2023 at Oracle Park against the St Louis Cardinals in game 3 of the four game series. (AP file photo)

On the Giants podcast with Troy Ewers and Vince Cestone:

#1 There was some worry that the Giants might falter, have a rough season, but they split with the New York Mets winning the last two games of that four game series and and winning the first two of this three game series against the St Louis Cardinals it seems the hitting has caught some fire.

#2 Wanted to ask you about catcher Blake Sabol who some had doubts about considering this is his rookie season Sabol had been making great contact of late and hit the game winning two run walk off home run on Tuesday night to defeat the St Louis Cardinals 5-4.

#3 Also Sabol can secure the back up position to Joey Bart if he keeps swinging the bat the way he has, Giants manager Gabe Kapler knows that Sacramento Rivercats catcher Gary Sanchez is chomping at the bit to get back up here too.

#4 Alex Cobb got some run support on Monday night and threw his second complete career shutout in a 4-0 six hit win against the St Louis Cardinals striking out four and walking one batter. Talk about Cobb’s command and keeping runners either in check or off the bases.

#5 Game three of this four game series tonight at Oracle Park in San Francisco. The Cards will be going with Steven Matz (0-3 ERA 6.55) he’ll be opposed by the Giants Anthony DeSclafani (1-1 ERA 2.63). The Cardinals are off to their worst 24 game start in 50 years with a 9-14 record. That goes back to the 1973 St Louis Cardinals.

Troy Ewers and Vince Cestone filled in for Michael Duca. Join Michael for the Giants podcasts heard Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants Sabol belts 2 run walk off HR to edge Cards 5-4 at Oracle Park

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San Francisco Giants’ Blake Sabol celebrates after hitting a game-winning, two-run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the ninth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Tue Apr 25, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Tony the Tiger Hayes

SAN FRANCISCO- San Francisco Giants (10-13) catcher Blake Sabol belted a two run walk off homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to help defat the St Louis Cardinals 5-4 to give the Giants a 2-0 lead in the three game series at Oracle Park in San Francisco.

Sabol said after the game that was one of the best moments of his life. Sabol said as soon as he hit the ball by the sound he knew and he bat flipped the bat. Sabol said he just remember screaming and rounding the bases and was jumping up and down with his teammates at home plate.

The Giants in the bottom of the ninth inning had a runner at second and the Cardinals had pitcher Ryan Helsley (0-2) in relief who gave up the home run ball to Sabol who hit it over the center field fence. Sabol said he didn’t come up there to hit a home run but to see what Helsley was offering and if he could see some of the ball out of Helsley’s hand.

Giants manager Gabe Kapler said that was a fight for your life situation for Sabol and he was down two strikes and for Sabol to connect on a pitch like that for a two run home run “it was pretty remarkable. Really cool moment, one of the cooler moments I’ve been part of since I’ve been here.” said Kapler.

The Giants were down 4-2 going into the ninth inning, Joc Pederson reached first on a fielding error by the Cards second baseman Tommy Edman. Then Mike Yastrzemski swung for an RBI double cutting the Cardinals lead to one run 4-3. So with Yastrzemski at second Sabol took Helsley to deep center for the two run walk off homer and one run win.

The Cardinals fell to 9-15 marking the Cards worst 24 game start in 50 years which had St Louis manager Oliver Marmol saying that this group has not given up yet, “This group’s not going to cave,” Marmol said. “I don’t care what people think. This will serve us extremely well when we get into September. I’ll tell you that.”

Kapler used an opener and the Giants ended up using eight pitchers, the Giants ended up surrendering three runs in the top of the eighth inning. The Giants sixth pitcher Scott Alexander gave up the three Cardinal runs, pitching 0.1 innings, three hits and three earned runs but the Giants persevered with Sabol’s two run homer to win it.

Starting pitchers for Wednesday night’s 6:45 pm tilt at Oracle Park for the Cardinals Miles Mikolas (0-1 ERA 7.46) for the Giants Logan Webb (1-4 ERA 4.40) for game 3 of the four game series.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Difficult to build Sports stadiums in Bay Area

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Las Vegas Aviators Field could be the Oakland A’s interim home while their stadium is being built on the Las Vegas Strip with a ready date of 2027 (photo from lasvegassun.com)

Difficult to build Sports stadiums in Bay Area

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Is it just a “coincidence” that Oakland has lost three professional teams in the last 5 years? Or does anybody here question Oakland’s politicians’ leadership?

Oakland is on its way to losing their third professional league team in the last five years, Raiders, Warriors, Athletics. The Bay Area has always been a difficult place for teams to build stadiums/arenas. Many factors, like very expensive to build anything here, also the lack of land/location availability, plus a very sensitive area for environmental issues which always take preference in the Bay Area.

In 1992 Bob Lurie, owner of the San Francisco Giants agreed to sell the Giants to a Florida group that would relocate the team to Tampa Bay. That same year, the A’s ownership under Walter Haas, gave the San José territorial rights to the Giants, who were thinking of building a stadium in San José, they never did. Years later after failed elections, the Giants build their own park (inaugurated in 2020) mostly with private money.

  • 49ers could not build in San Francisco: The San Francisco 49ers with a great history and tradition, with five Super Bowl titles, could never build a new park in San Francisco. In 2014 they packed their helmets and move to Santa Clara, where they build their current home, Levi Stadium. So, the San Francisco 49ers play in Santa Clara, but that is “small potatoes” because the Warriors have played since 1971 at Oakland and now San Francisco and they are still The “Golden State” Warriors, so if they win another NBA title I suppose it will be a State win?
  • Oakland A’s could not build in Oakland for 20 years. The A’s proposed Howard Terminal Park is a very nice plan, next to the water in Oakland, 35,000 seats in what was going to be a revitalization of the city of Oakland, a $12 billion project. But now, that plan looks like a thing of the past, and a trivia question for future generations after last week A’s announced they have a binding agreement to buy 49 acres of land a mile from the Strip in Vegas where they hope to build their $1.5 billion half-dome stadium. Las Vegas is a growing city now looking to its third pro-league sports team, NHL Golden Knights and NFL Las Vegas Raiders. With time, they will probably welcome the NBA and MLS teams to their gambling town, with time, it will happen. In Las Vegas, the A’s are being promised half a billion dollars from the state of Nevada for their new ballpark.

Who is to blame for the Oakland A’s leaving the Bay Area, the owners of the Oakland A’s, the City of Oakland politics, climate change? Whatever your opinion there are facts to be presented to the jury; as the City of Oakland precedent is not a good one when it comes to sports franchises, that (and the jury) must take into consideration.

Oakland is not a city ran with great competence and good results for its citizens, all you have to do is watch the news every day.

The Verdict: What comes first, the chicken or the egg? 2022 A’s attendance was the lowest in all of major league baseball. Why fans are not attending? The owners do not put any money on the field to keep their stars, they rebuild every few years and it is a vicious cycle, very tough for any fan to keep involved with the team, plus it has been 34 years since the last time the team won a World Series.

Oakland A’s fans are good loyal fans. Fans do not attend? Well, they can only take so much and the City of Oakland Mayor said they wanted to keep negotiating with the A’s, until when, the year 2500? This could be a hung jury because there is enough guilt on both sides, seems the City of Oakland and the Oakland Athletics deserved each other. In this case, the perfect divorce. Case dismissed.

Note: A question often asked: Where will the A’s play while their new ballpark is build in Las Vegas? A’s President Dave Kaval said last week that the team has an option with the Howard Hughes Corporation, which own the Aviators, to play at Las Vegas ballpark for the 2025 and 2026 seasons with 2027 the target date to inaugurate their new ballpark a mile from the strip.

What this means, is that more than likely the 2024 season for the A’s could be played at the Oakland Coliseum. 2024 is the last year of the lease with the Coliseum. However, that could also change since the A’s are 50% owners of the Oakland Coliseum.

The NHL California Golden Seals Seals ended up playing nine seasons in California before relocating to Cleveland in the mid-1970s, but their beginnings go all the way back to the early 1960s when they were a minor league team in the now defunct Western Hockey League known as the San Francisco Seals.

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

Golden State Warriors podcast with David Zizmor: Can Fox maintain with injured finger?; Fox says he’s 90-100% ready for game 5

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De’Aaron Fox (5) Sacramento Kings guard can tell you how many fingers he’s holding up and they’re just fine including his left index finger that had a fracture on the tip. Fox during practice said that he was 90-100% ready to participate in game 5 against the Golden State Warriors at Golden 1 Center on Wed Apr 26, 2023 (AP photo file)

On the Golden State Warriors podcast with David:

#1 Dave, the Sacramento Kings De’Aaron Fox saying this afternoon he’s good to go for game 5 on Wednesday night and that his left index finger is 90–100% after taking practice shots at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.

#2 Despite Fox’s confidence Kings head coach Mike Brown is getting multiple players ready to step up in the event Fox has issues with the finger on Wednesday night, back up point guard Davion Mitchell, Domantas Sabonis, and Malik Monk.

#3 With the knowledge of Fox’s finger injury how much confidence do the Golden State Warriors have going into this game in shutting down Fox and defending the Kings offense?

#4 The Warriors have won only 11 games on the road in the regular season and have lost the first two games of this first round, does that all kind of go away in this juncture of the post season after taking games three and four from Sacramento although those games were played at Golden State?

Join David Zizmor for Golden State Warriors podcast through the NBA playoffs at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento Kings report: Fox up for the challenge will be in the line up for game 5

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Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox (5) reacts after making a 3-point basket in the third quarter during Game 1 against the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the NBA playoffs on Sat Apr 15, 2023 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. Fox injured his left index finger during game 4 Sun Apr 23, 2023 at Chase Center in San Francisco and is expected back in the line up for game 5 Wed Apr 26, 2023 at Golden 1 (AP News photo)

DeAaron Fox – Up For the Challenge

By Barbara Mason

After Monday’s update, Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox was doubtful for game five vs the Golden State Warriors Wednesday night at Golden One Center. After fracturing his left index finger in game four, it was looking rather grim for the Kings. Losing Fox for the remainder of the playoffs was a nightmarish prospect.

What a difference a day makes as we awoke to the news that Fox is 99-100% playing in game five despite the injury. This game is pivotal and nothing is going to stop this guy from taking the court Wednesday night.

His injury is described as severe but Fox himself said that he would be fine. He can still shoot and dribble the ball. Had this occurred during the regular season he would have probably been out 1 to 2 weeks but this is the playoffs and Sacramento needs him for this critical game five.

This news really gave the Kings a confidence boost but there is also a caveat that goes along with this news. The entire team will have to step up and increase production. That is the tradeoff. Players like Malik Monk and Davion Mitchell off the bench will be needed along with Domantas Sabonis.

Keegan Murray will have to continue to up his game as well as Harrison Barnes and Kevin Huerter. It will be all hands on deck for this one. This will not be an easy task for either Fox or the team but this is a gutsy, determined bunch.

Fox is really putting himself out there and he will need the support and help from all of his teammates. It will be no secret that the Warriors will be gunning for that left hand. I fully expect the entire team will step up in the same manner that Fox himself has stepped up. He is putting it all on the line and the team will have to do the same. This has been a crazy turn of events for the Kings. Why not add just one more thing to the crazy and not only win game five but the series.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: A’s might sell source; A’s have deal with contractors to build Vegas park ; Kings Fox hopes to be in game 5 line up

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Oakland A’s owner John Fisher could be considering selling the A’s according to a source, the A’s despite low attendance are making money this season and could sell to an owner who could keep the team in Oakland (file photo SF Gate)

On That’s Amaury podcast:

#1 Amaury, Oakland A’s owner John Fisher amongst all the negative publicity of moving the team to Las Vegas and having crowds of 3,000 to 6,000 fans on average per game is actually making money is considering selling the team according to news reports on KRON 4 and Scott Ostler at the San Francisco Chronicle.

#2 Ostler who did not name any of the groups who are interested in buying the A’s said that he heard from a source that is reliable that Fisher would consider selling the team as the cost and value of the team continues to increase. Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob expressed interest in buying the team and that’s a standing offer.

#3 On Monday MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred apologized to Oakland fans saying he’s really sorry for any hurt the A’s fans are feeling but it’s not Fisher’s fault. The city of Oakland couldn’t get a deal done in a timely fashion. In the same breath Manfred said that Vegas will present a real revenue enhancing opportunity.

#4 Turning to the NBA the Sacramento Kings De’Aaron Fox has fractured his finger on his shooting hand. Fox lead all scorers in game four during Sunday afternoon’s game against the Golden State Warriors with 38 points and has been a crucial player in the Kings line up. Fox injured the tip of his left index finger. It’s got to be an impact when you lose your leading scorer.

#5 With Fox the Kings have not ruled him out of the line up for game five on Wednesday and cold wear protective covering over his index finger. If Fox suffers more pain the next two highest scorers Domantas Sabonis and Keegan Murray will need to step up. Fox is one of the guys who got the Kings this far it’s been quite a ride for Sacramento but without Fox it’s a sure test for the Kings.

#6 The Green Bay Packers have dealt quarterback Aaron Rogers to the New York Jets. Rogers quarterbacked for the Green Bay Packers for 18 seasons and will wear No. 8 instead of No.12 which was formerly worn by Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namith who gave his consent for Rogers to wear the number. Rogers declined and will wear the No.8 which he wore when he quarterback at Cal.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play announcer 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

Giants Cobb goes the distance for 4-0 six hit shutout over Cards

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San Francisco starter Alex Cobb goes the distance against the St Louis Cardinals at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Mon Apr 24, 2023 (@SFGiants photo)

St. Louis. 000 000 000 – 0. 6. 1

San Francisco. 000 000 40x – 4. 8 0

Time: 2:20

Attendance: 22,2203

Monday, April 24, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–It was the Gateway City against the team from the Golden Gate tonight at Oracle park when your San Francisco Giants (9-13) duked it out with the (9-14) St. Louis Cardinals in the first of a four game match up.

Before the teams took the field, the Giants announced that Mitch Haniger and Austin Slater had been restored to the active roster after having competed their rehab assignments. Darin Ruf, newly returned from the Mets, was placed on the 10 day injured list with an inflamed wrist, and Brett Wisely was optioned to the River Cats. I assume he took the news philosophically.

The home team went with Alex Cobb and his 0-1,2.79 record to face the Cards. The Giants’ 35 year old righty began his stint on the mound needing only 11 strikeouts to notch his 1,000th K.

Southpaw Jordan Montgomery brought his 2-2, 4.84 mark to the mound for the Redbirds. According to Statcast, he has a repertory of five deliveries, none of which he throws more than 38% of the time. They are, in descending order of frequency, the slider, the curve, the four seamer, the change of pace, and the cutter.

It was was a magnificent pitchers’ duel that the Giants won, 4-0, scoring all of their runs – every single one of them unearned – on a four run outburst in the lucky seventh.

The home team blew a wonderful opportunity to grab an early lead, loading the bases with but one out in the first. But Montgomery rose to the occasion, getting Michael Conforto to pop out to the catcher, Wilson Contreras, and fanning Wilmer Flores.

Cobb didn’t allow a baserunner until Paul Goldschmidt sent a double into the right field corner with one out in the fourth. He died on third, the two batters who followed him grounding out to preserve the scoreless tie.

It took a beautiful grab and throw from the knees by St. Louis third saccker Brandan Donovan to rob Slater of hit on a smash down the line with David Villar and Mike Yastremski on base with two away in the bottom of the fourth to keep the Giants from breaking that impasse.

The Redbirds almost broke through in theier half of the fifth they loaded the bases on an infield single by Tyler O’Neill, Donovan’s clean single to left, and a walk to Tommy Edman. But a beautiful play by Villar on Lars Noobaar’s weak grounder to third put the fifth consecutive goose egg on the St. L. line.

After the Cards’ second baseman Edman bobbled Yastremski’s seventh inning lead off grounder, allowing him to reach first safely, manager Tony LaRussa yanked Montgomery and sent Drew ver Hagen into the fray. The resurgent Joey Bart sent a resounding double into left, sending Yaz to third.

The logical move was for the Cards waa to declare an intentional pass to Joc Peterson, pinch hitting for Slater, which is what they did. With the bases now loaded and nobody out, ver Hagen whiffed Estrada. Haniger broke the tie with a sacrifice fly to right. But you ain’t heard nothin’ yet! With the count 0-2 on him, JD Davis took a 90 mph cut fast ball 380 feet into the left field night, and San Francisco was ahead 4-0.

Montgomery was charged with one run, and it was unearned, in his six inning appearance. He allowed five hits, a walk, and a hit batter. He struck out six batter and threw 107 pitches, 65 for strikes. He deserved a better fate. Ver Hagen wasn’t around for the eighth. Jordan Hicks took care of the Giants that frame.

Cobb set the Cardinals down in order in the ninth, winning the second shut out of his career.

The two teams will meet again at 6:45 tomorrow, Tuesday, evening. St. Louis will send right hander Jake Woodford (1-2 ,6.05) to the hill. The Giants haven’t yet name who will toe the rubber for them.

Cal Bears report: Cal hires Ken Moses as fourth assistant coach

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The Cal Bears welcome newly hired head coach Ken Moses who joins head coach Mark Madsen. Both Moses and Madsen worked together last season coaching the Utah Valley Wolverines. (image from @CalMBBall)

By Michael Duca

BERKELEY–Cal Bears head coach Mark Madsen was proud to bring on newly hired assistant coach Ken Moses. Moses is the fourth assistant coach hired at Cal by Madsen. Like Madsen, Moses is a recent hire from Utah Valley. Moses and Madsen had worked together for just one season last season as Madsen and Moses were on a staff that helped the Wolverines win 28 games and helped the Wolves get into the NITs.

The Wolverines had an impressive regular season going 28-9, 15-3 conference, the Wolves also had an impressive home record losing only one game at 14-1 and were one of the best road teams at 12-5. The Wolverines during the 2022-23 season had an 11 game win streak and a five game win streak.

Coach Madsen upon coming to Cal is confident that he could get the recruits needed and in place for the 2023-24 season and get the Cal program turned around as opposed to this past season where the Bears had won only three games all season long under former Cal head coach Mark Fox.

Moses also was an assistant coach at Montana State under head coach Danny Sprinkle. Moses with Sprinkle coached the Bobcats into a tournament. Moses attended Colorado State University Pueblo in 2006 through 2010. Moses will be a huge factor in finding talent for this upcoming men’s season as he has experience as development and operations when he was at Southern Illinois.

Sacramento Kings Fox doubtful for game 5 Wednesday night

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Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox (5) will most likely sit out game 5 with a left hand finger injury he sustained in the fourth quarter in game 4 against the Golden State Warriors at the Chase Center in San Francisco (AP News photo)

Kings Dealt Devastating Blow

By Barbara Mason

As if the loss to the Warriors Sunday afternoon was not bad enough, the Kings were dealt a huge blow after the game. It was learned that De’Aaron Fox had apparently suffered a fractured fingertip on his left index finger. He is doubtful for game five in Sacramento.

Fox is considering playing through the pain with some sort of protective covering on his finger. The Kings will just have to wait and see what the team and Fox will determine. Had the Kings won Sunday night’s game they could have held Fox out for two games although an additional week of rest would not change much of anything.

He may have had time to practice shooting with the protective covering but the bottom line is they did not win and they will just have to deal with what fate has placed in their path. Fractured fingers typically take three to four weeks to heal. We will see what the Kings trainers come up with. They have kept these guys for the most part healthy this season and so the team can only hope that they have just the right solution for this injury.

It will be a no-brainer that the Warriors will take full advantage of the injury and do all they can to exacerbate the injury. Unfortunately it’s all about winning and nothing more enters into the equation. Sacramento will have to work hard to get past this one. It is a tall order and from what we have seen in these playoffs, the Kings play hard and with a lot of heart and they will take this in stride and give game five all they’ve got.

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Jets Morrisey to miss rest of playoffs; Bruins Krejci sits for game 4; plus more

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The Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey is listed out of action for the remainder of the NHL playoffs against the Vegas Golden Knights. Morrisey was injured on Sat Apr 23, 2023 in Winnipeg during the first period at 1:43. (photo from nhl.com)

On the NHL podcast with Marko:

#1 Marko one of the key Winnipeg Jets Josh Morrissey will be out for the remainder of the playoffs due to an lower body injury. The Jets who trail the Vegas Golden Knights 2-1 in the Jets 5-4 double overtime loss to the Knights on Saturday night saw Morrisey suffer the injury at 1:43 of the first period. Marko talk about how Morrissey’s absence will impact the Jets.

#2 The Boston Bruins defenseman David Krejci sat out for game 4 against the Florida Panthers on Sunday afternoon. Krejci was a late scratch Sunday after taking in the morning skate and the pre game warm ups. Krejci has only one assist in the first two games of the playoffs. Also the Bruins are missing center Patrice Bergeron who did not travel with the Bruins to Florida. Bergeron is likely to return on Wednesday for game 5.

#3 The New Jersey Devils came away with a 2-1 one goal overtime win over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night. The Devils Dougie Hamilton scored at 11:36 in the overtime stanza for the game winner. Despite the win for New Jersey they still trail the Rangers by a game 2-1 in the series. New Jersey and New York battle again for game 4 tonight at MSG.

#4 Los Angeles Kings left wing Kevin Fiala is a possible return against the Edmonton Oilers tonight in Los Angeles. Fiala looks forward to getting in the game as he has not played since Apr 1 due to a lower body injury. Fiala did practice with the Kings wearing a non contact jersey. Fiala suffered the injury back on Mar 9th when he got into knee on knee hit with the Colorado Avalanche’s center Andrew Congliano, the Oilers came away a 5-2 winner in that game.

#5 Marko, Toronto Maple Leafs forward Sam Lafferty was fined the NHL maximum $3,108.11 according the collective bargaining agreement for cross checking the Tampa Bay Lightning’s forward Ross Colton in game 3 on Saturday. Lafferty checked Colton at 15:10 in the second period. The Maple Leafs edged the Lightning in overtime 4-3 to take a 2-1 series lead.

Join Marko for the NHL Playoff podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com