Category: MLB

Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: Nevada looking to spend more public money on Warner Bros Studios instead of public Schools; Like A’s ballpark a new tax will be created for studios

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Alexander Marks from Schools over Stadiums (above photo) and Chris Daly, political director of the Nevada State Education Association, attended the brief stadium board meeting to argue that the hiring of the LVCVA by the stadium board was a clear conflict that has been par for the course in a government process that saw the A’s receive the government money in lightning speed. Photo credit: Hugh Byrne/LVSportsBiz.com

On the Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel:

#1 According to Republican Governor Joe Lambardo saying Democrats” have been lying to Nevada families in need about free school meals for weeks.” Lombardo said that parents should see his open letter about free school meals. Lombardo is trying to show that the state is doing something with public money to help schools at the same time using public money for the A’s ballpark.

#2 On Tuesday Schools over Stadiums representative Alexander Marks said that while Lombardo claims he’s transparent then why does he refuse speak to the press about the free school meals budget when they’ve asked for public comment proves the point that the State of Nevada and the Lombardo are not being transparent.

#3 Also on Tuesday it was announced that a Nevada judge will rule if it’s legal to earmark $380 million in public funds to help fund the Las Vegas A’s ballpark on Las Vegas Blvd and Tropicana.

#4 Marks writes on X Tuesday that if the State of Nevada were to a write movie about having a fully funded school system with 20 students per class it would be a like a rated F movie that requires billionaires to build their own studios without public money after news broke that Warner Bros wants to build studios in Vegas if the Nevada State Legislature approves a film tax for the studios. More public money being used for studios and stadiums instead of public schools.

#5 Marks also mentioned Las Vegas Stadium Authority CEO Steven Hill in last week’s meeting regarding the financial progress of the A’s paying for their share of the ballpark that “We’re rounding third and headed for home. There are not many open issues left.” Marks countered by writing on Schools over Stadiums X page, “Except for financing, final renderings, actual stadium location, the constitutional lawsuit, the 2026 referendum…yup very few open issues left”

Join Daniel Dullum for the Oakland A’s Relocation podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s in fourth can they catch Rangers for third? Series with Brewers opens tonight at Coliseum

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Oakland A’s starter Osvaldo Bido was dealing pitching into the fifth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at the Oakland Coliseum on Thu Aug 22, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 The A’s who battled with the visiting Tampa Bay Rays avoided losing the series coming away with a 2-2 split at the Oakland Coliseum with a two run 3-1 win on Thursday afternoon.

#2 A’s starter Osvaldo Bido threw five solid innings striking out six hitters and picked up his third straight win.

#3 Lawrence Butler, Miguel Andujar, and Darell Hernaiz each had two hits a piece to help contribute to the cause. The A’s with some key hits helped get this win over a very competitive Rays team.

#4 A’s manager Mark Kotsay said about Bido’s pitching performance, “I tip my cap to Bido for making those adjustments and being able to repeat them. I think that’s why we’re seeing the success we are.”

#5 The A’s are now in fourth place in the AL West just four game behind the Rangers for third place are they good and competitive enough the way you see it to move into third place?

#6 The A’s will open a three game series against the Milwaukee Brewers starting tonight at the Coliseum. Starting pitcher for the Brewers RHP Aaron Civale (4-8, ERA 4.78) going for the A’s LHP JP Sears (10-8, ERA 4.15) first pitch at 6:40pm PT.

Jeremiah Salmonson is an Oakland A’s analyst at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

In Their Final Season in Oakland, the A’s Are Giving The People What They Want

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By Morris Phillips

OAKLAND—The Coliseum sound system remains on point. In the mid-fifth inning break Tommy Richman’s “The Devil is A Lie” is doing what it does. Later the Foo Fighters, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. And prior to the fifth, Nelly’s “It Must Be The Money” bumped nicely, and thematically touched on the greater issue of the A’s final season in Oakland.

Initially, and through May and June, that music could have been the high point. The protests and the anger at A’s management could have been the low point. Now, as August gives way to the final September, the A’s surprising play on the field is the overriding theme.

The youthful, talent-challenged A’s could surprise and post a winning record at the Coliseum in their final season. They sit at 33-33 with 15 home games and five opponents remaining, and people want to see what they’re going to do, how they’re going to finish.

“Look at Bido, he pitched a great game,” Jerry Albright commented, from his choice seats right behind third base and home plate. “JP Sears is hitting his stride. Mason Miller’s been great.”

“We’re happy,” Albright continued. “We’re much happier.”

Albright is a true A’s fan. All he needs is green and gold uniforms in front of him, and at least one guy sitting near him to talk baseball. On Thursday afternoon, with just 5,142 people in the park, Albright had what he needed. And when I approached, I had to interrupt his enthusiasm for his team, and how swell they dispatched the Rays to even a competitive four-game series.

Albright’s taking his game to Sacramento in 2025. Two teams playing a full schedule on field turf in a burdened Triple-A stadium doesn’t compute to him. But he needs his team, and Amtrak will get him where he needs to be.

“We’re going to Sacramento,” he said. “We’re A’s fans. What are you going to do?”

Ten rows in front of Albright, reliever Jim Ferguson is anticipating his son Tyler’s entrance into the game as the A’s newly-minted setup man. Ferguson grew up loving Catfish Hunter, and his first game in the building was in the initial season in 1968. After raising Tyler in Fresno, and watching him pitch in Las Vegas, Phoenix with Diamondbacks, and a few other west coast ballparks, Jim Ferguson is back off Hegenberger Road, and he like Albright, appears to be in his element.

“Tyler’s coming in now,” he tells me in anticipation of the eighth.

The 31-year-old Ferguson worked fast and effectively. He needed just 12 pitches to retire the Rays despite surrendering a walk to Josh Lowe. Jim appeared satisfied after spending consecutive days in the park and getting to see his favorite pitcher work for six or so minutes.

“When I was here in May, we weren’t playing great ball, but we’ve made strides,” Tyler Ferguson said after the game.

Phil Peters, a few more rows closer to the A’s dugout, and joined by bookend friends, both wearing “Sell” t-shirts, was grumbling about the $50 seats and $30 parking. His guys fussed as well about not being able to change their seats when plenty of seats were obviously available. 

“There’s no one here. I’m here because I love baseball. It’s just sad,” Peters said.

The fans speak with their emotion. The players play. The actions aren’t similar, but the dynamic works. In a stadium where the sound system is the loudest thing, Mason Miller and Brent Rooker are the best things.

Lawrence Butler, JJ Bleday, Shea Langeliers, and JP Sears are stars as well in an environment that could be described theatrically. It’s a dense story, and Thursday’s winning pitcher Osvaldo Bido, Joey Estes, Zach Gelof, and Max Schuemann are scene stealers, too. Daz Cameron, Mitch Spence, and Tyler Nevin are promising actors. They, too, could one day be stars.

This is a story people want to see develop. But it’s leaving town, not for Broadway, but to some regional theater in mid-America.

The A’s open an engagement with Milwaukee on Friday. The slumping Mariners and Tigers open September, and the Yankees and Rangers close the home slate starting September 20.

This isn’t a promotional piece, but promotion is sorely needed. Oakland’s team, the A’s deserves a steady, stable audience.

A’s Tie Up Four Game Series With Tampa Bay Winning 3-1

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Tampa Bay Rays Jose Caballero (7) slides ahead of the tag by the Oakland A’s second baseman Zack Gelof (right) after hitting a RBI double in the top of the fourth at the Oakland Coliseum. The A’s went onto win a two run game over the Rays on Thu Aug 22, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

After losing the last two games, the Oakland A’s (55-73) wanted to finish their four game series against the Tampa Bay Rays (64-63) with a tie. They did just that winning the game 3-1 with Mason Miller closing out the game on Thursday afternoon at the Coliseum.

The A’s had nine hits in the game with Miguel Andujar, Lawrence Butler and Darell Hernaiz turning in two hits apiece. Besides Mason Miller shutting the door on the Rays every one of the relief pitchers were outstanding as was .the five innings pitched by Osvaldo Bido winning his third game in a row.

Game recap: Oakland got a terrific start scoring in the second and third innings taking a 3-0 lead. There had been no home runs so far in the game but there were some nice base hits for the A’s. Zach Gelof sacrifice flied in the second inning driving Lawrence Butler home for the early 1-0 lead.

This was Gelof’s 40th RBI of the year. The A’s extended their lead to 2-0 in the same inning when Oakland’s Darell Hernaiz doubled Tyler Nevin home. The A’s added a third run in the third inning when Lawrence Butler singled and Daz Cameron scored for a 3-0 lead.

The Rays got on the scoreboard in the fourth inning scoring a single run. Jose Caballero doubled Christopher Morel home and Oakland held onto the 3-1 lead. The A’s continued to lead 3-1 lead going into the top of the ninth inning. Oakland was three outs away from tying up the fourth game series.

The Rays had run into some trouble in the bottom of the eighth inning with back to back walks. but the A’s were unable to score and this game went into the top of the ninth inning. Oakland’s Mason Miller took the mound looking to finish off Tampa Bay.

It was “Miller Time”. Much to his chagrin, Tampa Bay’s Taylor Walls was called out and next at bat Kameron Misner had his first big league career hit, a single. Junior Caminero struck out swinging for the second out and it was up to Yandy Diaz who grounded into a fielder’s choice for the third out. Oakland tied up the series with the 3-1 win.

Oakland finished this game with some great hitting and some especially outstanding pitching from Osvaldo Bido, in fact, the A’s pitching was great the entire game. Bido went 5 innings. allowingtwo hits and a single earned run striking out six.

It would have been great to see Bido go further in this game but at this time of year, you don’t want to overwork these young pitchers. Otanez, Holman, McFarland, and Ferguson turned in some great relief pitching closing this game out with super closer Mason Miller. Oakland had beat a solid Tampa Bay Rays team and had tied up this series. Since the all-star game, this team has continued to play some great baseball and have won some amazing games.

Game notes: The A’s got a great start in their series with the Rays in game one winning a shutout 3-0. Oakland lost game two 1-0 in a close one and went on to lose game three 4-2 on Wednesday night. Thursday they finished off this series winning game four to force a 2-2 tie in the series.

Oakland started Osvaldo Bido who pitched five innings, allowed just two hits and one run. Bido has won his last two outings the most recent a 2-0 win over the San Francisco Giants. The Rays Jeffrey Springs started and went 3.1 innings allowed seven hits and three earned runs.

Friday night the Oakland A’s will welcome the Milwaukee Brewers to the Coliseum for a three game series. JP Sears is the probable pitcher to start this game for Oakland. He has been pitching some great games with a 10-8 win/loss record and a 4.16 ERA.

The Brewers will send Aaron Civale to the mound. He comes in with a 4-8 win/loss record and a 4.78 ERA. He has won his last two outings . Sears lost his last outing against the Giants but won three in a row prior to that game. First pitch for Friday’s game is scheduled for 6:40 PM.

Rays outduel A’s 4-2; Both managers Cash and Kotsay get tossed by ump

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Oakland A’s manager Mark Kotsay expresses his displeasure in front of second base umpire Laz Diaz in the bottom of the eighth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at the Oakland Coliseum Wed Aug 21, 2024 (AP News photo)

Tampa Bay (64-62) 000 020 200 4 7 1

Athletics (54-73) 100 001 000 2 5 0

Time:2:32

Attendance: 10,339

Wednesday, August 21, 2024

Oakland, CA

By Lewis Rubman

Serial A’s killer José Siri, right handed pitcher Ryan Pepiot, and minor league call up umpire Brock Ballou combined to give the team from the western end of the Tamiami Trail a 4-2 triumph over the Erewhon A’s in this Wednesday night’s third game of their four game series.

A night earlier, the Athletics had battled the Rays to a scoreless tie until there were two out in the top of the eighth before succumbing 1-0. Wednesday night, JJ Bleday’s first inning home run, a 373 foot dinger to right, his 17th round trip shot of the year, was too late and, as it turned out, too little to overcome the dashing and resourceful Floridians, who lead the majors in steals since the All-Star break.

Bleday also figured in the Rays’ tying the score in the top of the fifth. He made a diving attempt to catch Siri’s dying quail in center field only to have the ball bounce off the heel of his upturned glove, allowing José Caballero to race to third and then score on Jonny DeLuca’s grounder that forced Siri out at second. Yandy Díaz then drove DeLuca home with the go ahead tally.

In the bottom of the sixth, Lawrence Butler raised the utopian hope that the Athletics might somehow pull off a win, doubling to left and scoring the tying run on Brent Rooker’s single to center. I call the hope utopian because utopia is Latin for nowhere, hence my reference to the Erewhon A’s in the first paragraph. In 1872, the British writer Samuel Butler wrote a once well known novel he called Erewhon. Pedantry and word play can take the sting out of the double loss of a tight game and a tightwad team owner.

Mitch Spence didn’t quite perform up to the standards of Joe Boyle on Monday or Joey Estes on Tuesday, but, even though he made a few mistakes (and what pitcher doesn’t?), he had little to be ashamed of. He struck out ten Rays in seven innings on the mound, allowing four runs on seven hits, one of them a serious four bagger from Tampa Bays’ interstate dwelling center fielder, who, even after three straight scorching games, still is looking up at the Mendoza line.

Nonetheless, the one time Yankee farm hand threw only 30 balls out of 105 total pitches, only to be charged with his ninth loss against seven wins and see his ERA creep up to 4.67. JT Ginn, promoted from the AAA Las Vegas Aviators on Tuesday, made an impressive big league debut, giving up one walk and striking out three opposing batters while shutting out the Rays in the two final frames.

Tampa Bay’s Ryan Pepiot celebrated his 27th birthday by earning a win that improved his record to 7-5, 3.65. His performance was a notch above Spence’s. The Athletics got to him for two runs, both earned, on five hits, one of them Bleday’s homer in the first.

He gave up one walk and hit one batter while striking out five of the 23 he faced. Half of his 105 offerings were balls. Drew Rassmussen, Garrett Clevinger, and Manuel Rodríguez held the A’s scoreless in the one inning that each of them spent on the bump. Rodríguez earned the save, his first.

Wednesday night’s game had the distinction of featuring the ejection of both teams’ managers. In the seventh, the Rays’ Kevin Cash was tossed by plate umpire Brock Ballou, whose atrocious work behind the plate was non-partisan, and A’s skipper Mark Kotsay got the heave-ho from first base arbiter Erich Bacchus in the eighth.

The A’s will try to even the series Thursday, at 12:37 in the afternoon. The Athletics will send righty Osvaldo Bido (4-3, 3.40), who gave up two walks and an infield single in his last start, beating the Giants on August 17th. The Rays will counter with southpaw Jeffrey Springs (1-1,3.86).

Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong: Orioles Eflin out on 15 day IL shoulder injury; Braves Riley out with broken hand; plus more news

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Baltimore Orioles pitcher Zach Eflin is out with a shoulder injury and is one the 15 day IL as of Tue Aug 20, 2024 (AP News photo)

Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong:

#1 Jessica, the Baltimore Orioles right hander Zach Eflin is out with a shoulder injury and was placed on the 15 day IL. Eflin was scheduled to pitch on Wednesday against the New York Mets to close out the series. Eflin felt shoulder soreness and had to sit that game out.

#2 After the Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley broke his hand and said “I hate that I’m going to be out, not be out there competing with the guys. I also understand it’s part of the game. Injuries happen.” The Braves signed Gio Urshela who was released by the Detroit Tigers on Sunday. Urshela was hitting .243 with five home runs.

#3 New York Yankees pitcher Luis Gil left Tuesday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians in the fourth inning of a 9-5 loss. Gil has signaled for the trainer when he threw a change up to the Guardian Jose Ramirez and had to leave because of lower back tightness. Dr. David Trofa said that Gil would be reassessed again on Wednesday.

#4 Ten years ago former San Francisco Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto helped the Giants win a World Series. Fast forward Cueto will get the call at age 38 years on Wednesday night for the Los Angeles Angels. Angels manager Ron Washington called up Cueto on Tuesday and said that he hopes Cueto will stick around and also influence the younger players.

#5 Tuesday the Chicago Cubs Cody Bellinger hit a two run double and Danby Swanson hit a home run to help the Cubs defeat the Detroit Tigers 3-1. Bellinger was 2-4 and the Cubs got good pitching from Javier Assad 5.2 innings, allowing one run and six hits.

Jessica Kwong does Headline Sports podcasts every other Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants game wrap: Giants waste superb outing and fail to sweep White Sox, who score four in the ninth, 6-2 loss

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San Francisco Giants Mark Canha swings for a base hit in the bottom of the fourth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Aug 21, 2024 (AP News photo)

Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Chicago White Sox 6 (31-97)

San Francisco Giants 2 (65-64)

Win: Fraser Ellard (1-1)

Loss: Erik Miller (3-4)

Time: 2:10

Attendance: 28,375

By Stephen Ruderman

Not only did the Giants fail to complete the sweep of the historically-bad White Sox, but they wasted another great outing by Logan Webb and imploded in the top of the ninth inning, as the South Siders scored four runs en route to a 6-2 win on Wednesday afternoon.

The Giants have been able to take advantage of playing not just the worst team in Baseball, but an historically-bad Chicago White Sox’ team that could end up having the worst season in Baseball History.

The Giants have won three-straight, including the first two of this series. Today, Logan Webb was making what seems like a rare start after a Giants’ win, as they had a chance to sweep and get back to their season-high three games over .500.

However, Webb would immediately run into trouble right out of the gate. Nicky Lopez led off the game with a triple, and he scored two batters later on a base-hit by Andrew Benintendi.

Left-hander Garrett Crochet made the start for Chicago. Crochet started off his afternoon with a scoreless bottom of the first inning and a one, two, three bottom of the second. Webb settled down with a scoreless top of the second and a one, two, three top of the third.

Casey Schmitt led off the bottom of the third with a double for the Giants’ first hit of the game. However, this being the Giants, Crochet set down the next three in order to escape the inning unscathed.

The White Sox would make the Giants pay for their wasted opportunity. Luis Robert Jr., who you could say “robbed” Curt Casali of an RBI base-hit with a sliding catch that he really didn’t need to make in the bottom of the third, led off the top of the fourth with a double.

Benintendi flew out to right field to move Robert over to third base, and Andrew Vaughn got Robert in on a sacrifice fly to left to make it 2-0. Talk about manufacturing a run.

Gavin Sheets then singled to extend the inning. Now usually wouldn’t go on about an inning like this since the White Sox did not extend their lead, but Korey Lee hit a ground ball right to third that Matt Chapman ran to his right to field right on the line, and Chapman made a perfect jump throw to first to end the inning.

Matt Chapman has shined at the hot corner all season, and his defense and leadership have been a huge boost for this team. He may be getting up in age, but he has certainly earned an extension.

Chapman’s great play was a shot in the arm for the Giants in the bottom of the fourth. Mark Canha led off the inning with a ground-rule double, and Heliot Ramos also doubled, which moved Canha to third—I know, make that make sense.

Chapman, who now had the chance to get the big hit after his great play at third, struck out swinging. Jerar Encarnacion got Canha in on a ground out to second to put the Giants on the board.

Still, the Giants were lacking that big RBI hit. However, they would get it when Thairo Estrada stepped up and singled the other way to right to tie the game.

From there, Webb was in complete command. He threw four more scoreless innings and retired 12 of the final 13 men he faced to cap off another incredible outing.

Webb went eight innings, giving up just two runs and five hits. He did not walk anybody, and he struck out six. Unfortunately, it was still the same story for Webb on the offensive side, as the Giants’ offense was only able to provide him with two runs of support.

For the White Sox, Crochet was done after just four innings. Chad Kuhl pitched a one, two, three inning in the bottom of the fifth, and a scoreless bottom of the sixth. Justin Anderson and Fraser Ellard then pitched 1-2-3 innings in the seventh and eighth.

One complaint I had over the first two games of this series was that even though the Giants won both games, they were much closer than they should have been against a team like the White Sox. Unfortunately, Wednesday was the same story, and the Giants would pay for it big time in the ninth.

Erik Miller came in, as the game was still tied 2-2 in the top of the ninth. Miller got off to a good start, as he got Nicky Lopez to fly out to begin the inning. However, Robert walked and stole second. Benintendi also walked, and then Vaughn reached on an infield hit to load the bases.

Miller had his back against the wall, as the White Sox had the bases loaded with one out. Miller bounced back to strike out Sheets, and then Bob Melvin went to Spencer Bivens.

Korey Lee came up to the plate for the White Sox. Bivens quickly got ahead in the count 0-2, and was a strike away from getting out of it and sending the game to the bottom of the ninth still tied.

However, Lee took a pair of balls—pun or no pun intended—to even the count. Then he lined a sinker up the middle for a base-hit that scored a pair to give the Pale Hose a 4-2 lead. Lee had advanced to second on an error by center-fielder Grant McCray, and Lenyn Sosa singled to left to knock in a pair and make it 6-2.

It was a disastrous and embarrassing inning for the Giants. To add insult to injury, White Sox Interim Manager Grady Sizemore summoned former Giant John Brebbia, who was also one of the biggest characters on the Giants the last three years, for the bottom of the ninth.

Ramos led off the bottom of the ninth with his second double of the game. The Giants were now in a great position to bounce back and…..who am I kidding, Brebbia set down the next three, and the White Sox won 6-2.

Fraser Ellard got the win, and Erik Miller took the loss.

The Giants won the first two games against this awful White Sox’ team, but they made them both too close for comfort. Then Wednesday, they couldn’t even complete the easiest sweep of the season, and they lost in such an embarrassing way.

The Giants fall to 65-64, and on top of losing to the White Sox, they now have to begin a stretch in which 27 of their next 30 games will be against teams over .500.

The Giants flew to Seattle Wednesday afternoon, as they will embark on a six-game, two-city road trip. They will get a day off Thursday in the beautiful city of Seattle, and then they will start a three-game series in Seattle Friday, which will run through Sunday. That will be followed up with three in Milwaukee against the Brewers next Monday through Wednesday.

The pitching matchup for Friday’s series opener at T-Mobile Park has still yet to be announced. The only thing for certain is that yours truly will be there, and with the fact that it will be cold and rainy like Northern California in the winter, that makes me very happy. Not to worry, they have a roof up there. Just give us one sunny day.

First pitch on Friday will be at 7:10 p.m.

National League Wild Card Standings:

*1. Diamondbacks 72-56 +4.0

*2. Padres 72-56 +4.0

  1. Braves 67-59 —

Mets 66-61 1.5

GIANTS 65-64 3.5

Cardinals 62-64 5.0

*Reds 62-65 5.5

*Cubs 62-65 5.5

*Tiebreakers taken into account.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Sox rally for 4 runs in ninth to defeat Giants 6-2

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Chicago White Sox Luis Robert Jr connects for a base hit in the top of the sixth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Aug 21, 2024 (AP News photo)

On SF Giants podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 The Chicago White Sox Korey Lee hit a two run RBI single that broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the ninth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wednesday afternoon that was part of a four run rally that helped defeat the San Francisco Giants 6-2. The win snaps the Sox four game losing streak.

#2 Giants reliever Erik Miller now 3-4 surrendered two walks to the Sox Luis Robert Jr and Andrew Benintendi with two out in the ninth inning with Lee at the plate he singled off Spencer Bivens to knock in the two runs. The Sox Lenyn Sosa hit a two run single for another two runs and the Sox came away with a four run win. How much trouble did you see Miller and Bivens having trying to work out of that jam?

#3 The Sox Robert and Gavin Sheets had two hits a piece and contributed in the game with two RBIs. As the White Sox who have lost won their third game in nine tries.

#4 Michael, how important is it that Chris Casalli is starting for the injured Patrick Bailey as catcher. Bailey is out on the 10 day IL with the oblique strain.

#5 The Giants open up a three game series with the Seattle Mariners starting Friday night a 7:10pm PT first pitch at T Mobile. Neither club has announced a starter as of Wednesday night.

Michael Duca does the Giants podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

ChiSox Sizemore Knows His Sample Size Is Limited

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Chicago White Sox manager Grady Sizemore photo

By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO—Making out the lineup isn’t a mundane act for Chicago White Sox interim manager Grady Sizemore.

“It’s something that I enjoy,” Sizemore said. “But again, there’s nothing set in stone. I’m just trying to get guys comfortable, playing in their spots. We’re evaluating it every day on where we want guys. I just want the best matchups.”

The best matchups on Tuesday night at Oracle Park weren’t very favorable for Sizemore. The woeful Sox were limited to three hits by Robbie Ray, a pitcher who didn’t survive the first inning in his last start against the Braves. On Tuesday, he was reborn, or more accurately, given a dream matchup against one of the worst teams baseball has ever seen.

The White Sox fell to 30-97, an unforgivable 67 games below .500, and they dropped their 14th consecutive series in losing the first two games against the Giants. A 14-game losing streak, and 21-game skid after that drew national headlines. And if Sizemore’s club falls behind, they fold their tents early and get ready for the next game. On Tuesday, the game was played in a brisk two hours, twenty minutes, and Chicago fell to 0-74 when they trail after seven innings.

To say Sizemore has his work lumped upon his clubhouse desk so high he can’t see out the door would be fair. But none of this is fair. Pedro Grifol was shown the door on August 8, and GM Chris Getz tabbed Sizemore to get the team through the final 45 games with grace, dignity and a whole bunch of humility.

Of course, those needs pointed Getz to rock-solid, super-steady Sizemore.

“We knew this season was gonna have its struggles based on the roster that we had,” Getz said on the occasion of Grifol’s dismissal. “When you make a change, you want to be very certain that it’s going to be effective.”

So what does effective mean in this very unusual case? It means that Sizemore, who has just one year of coaching experience as a minor league instructor for the Indians in 2023 must win at least 11 of the final 36 games to keep his club out of the record books as the worst team ever by losing percentage in the 20th and 21st centuries, a period of 125 years. It’s a weighty assignment that will draw a bunch of unwanted attention on a city and a fan base that at this point just wants to be left alone.

The 42-year old Sizemore doesn’t particularly like attention. So he is the right guy for the job. When asked if he would like this interim job to morph into a managers’ job somewhere else in 2025, a possibility if not a likelihood, he characteristically didn’t bite.

“Right now, I just focus on what I can do for these guys now,” he said after the 4-1 loss. “I don’t think past tomorrow.”

Sizemore’s words have never been terribly entertaining, but his tale of the tape is.

He’s originally from Seattle, and he graduated from high school in nearby Everett, Washington, where he played football, baseball and basketball while compiling a stellar 3.85 GPA. He’s bi-racial; his father Grady II is black, and his mother, Donna, is white.

From the managerial pedestal, his background sets Sizemore apart. African-American managers are often older not unlike Dusty Baker and Ron Washington, and have far more coaching experience and grooming, again like Baker and Washington. Yeah, black managers have been chosen to lead a bunch of reclamation projects, but not one this dire.

But here he is, and really isn’t trying to make light of any of it.

“I’m never going to waste my time worrying about stuff,” he said in an interview and article granted to ESPN in 2006. “I am going to enjoy my time on the planet, and that’s it.

“I don’t judge people. I just accept them for who they are.”

GAME NOTES: Tuesday’s game was a matchup of starting pitchers who both have had Tommy John surgery, and missed a large chunk of playing time, which today, is an occurrence that’s becoming more and more frequent.

“It’s great seeing (the Giants’) Robbie Ray, another TJ guy, pitch,” Chicago’s Davis Martin said after the game.

Martin said he felt great afterwards, departing in the fifth inning after throwing 82 pitches, which was a mandated max by Sizemore and his staff.

Ray completely turned things around by pitching into the seventh inning, after he didn’t survive the first inning against the Braves in his previous start, a 13-2 loss that was the low point of last week’s four-game slide for the Giants.

Ray strikes out nine over six strong innings, Giants make it three-straight with 4-1 win over White Sox

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San Francisco Giants starter Robbie Ray struck out nine Chicago White Sox at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Tue Aug 20, 2024 (AP News photo)

Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Chicago White Sox 1 (30-97)

San Francisco Giants 4 (65-63)

Win: Robbie Ray (3-2)

Loss: Davis Martin (0-2)

Save: Ryan Walker (2)

Time: 2:20

Attendance: 28,766

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants have taken advantage of their easy schedule to get back on track, as Robbie Ray struck out nine over six strong innings, and the Giants beat the White Sox 4-1 to win their third-straight on Monday night at Oracle Park in San Francisco.

The Giants beat the White Sox 5-3 Tuesday night after the White Sox got the tying run to second base with two outs in the top of the ninth. It was a game that was much closer than it should have been against the historically-bad White Sox, but at least the Giants were able to get the win.

Tuesday night, the Giants looked to make it three-straight with Robbie Ray on the mound on this Tuesday night at Oracle Park. Ray started the night off with a one, two, three top of the first inning. White Sox’ starter Davis Martin also started his night with a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the first.

Ray threw another one, two, three inning in the top of the second, and then the Giants got something going against Martin in the bottom of the second. Matt Chapman and Mike Yastrzemski singled to put runners at the corners with one out.

Monday night, the Giants finally got the timely RBI hits with runners in scoring position in a four-run bottom of the fifth. They weren’t able to do that in the bottom of the second Tuesday night, but Thaiuro Estrada was able to beat out the back end of a potential 5-4-3 double play, and Chapman scored to give the Giants a 1-0 lead.

The White Sox had Dominic Fletcher at first with two outs for Lenyn Sosa, who hit a double that bounced off the wall in left-center field. Fletcher was waived in, and he was initially called out at the plate. However, the White Sox challenged the call, which was overturned, and the game was tied.

The Giants loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the third for Heliot Ramos, who walked to put the Giants back ahead. They had the bases loaded with nobody out and a chance to extend their lead, but being the Giants, they were unable to add on.

Both teams went down 1-2-3 in the fourth, and Ray pitched another scoreless inning in the top of the fifth.

Curt Casali led off the bottom of the fifth with a base-hit, and after Tyler Fitzgerald struck out, Martin was done. White Sox Interim Manager Grady Sizemore brought in Fraser Ellard, who immediately walked LaMonte Wade.

That put runners at first and second with one out for Ramos. Ramos knocked in a run with a bases-loaded walk his last time up in the third. Here in the fifth, he lined a base-hit up the middle that scored Casali to make it 3-1. It was the first RBI hit with a runner in scoring position for the Giants Tuesday night.

The Giants were unable to further extend their lead in the bottom of the fifth, but Ray responded with a one, two, three shutdown inning in the top of the sixth. The Giants then wasted an opportunity against Touki Toussaint in the bottom of the sixth.

Ray gave up a one-out base-hit to Gavin Sheets with one out in the top of the seventh. Ray then struck out Korey Lee, but Bob Melvin pulled him for Sean Hjelle, who got Miguel Vargas to ground into a fielder’s choice to end the inning.

Ray was good Tuesday night, and much more consistent than Kyle Harrison was Monday night. Ray gave up just a run and three hits, while striking out nine over six and two thirds innings.

It seems like the Giants’ starters have been posting a lot of high strikeout totals in starts recently. That’s because they have, as the Giants are fifth in all of Baseball in strikeouts this season with 1,123.

Toussaint was back out for the South Siders in the bottom of the seventh. Ramos walked to start the inning and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Mark Canha then walked, too, but Matt Chapman grounded into a double play.

The good news was that Ramos was still 90 feet away at third. Mike Yastrzemski got Ramos in with a ground-rule double that got stuck underneath the side wall down the right field line, and that made it 4-1.

Submariner Tyler Rogers pitched a scoreless top of the eighth, which would have been a one, two, three inning had Dominic Fletcher not reached on catcher’s interference to start the inning. Gus Varland then threw a one, two, three bottom of the eighth for the White Sox.

Ryan Walker didn’t pitch two innings last night, and in fact, he didn’t pitch it all last night, which meant he was free to pitch tonight. Walker indeed came in for the top of the ninth, and he struck out the side in a one, two, three inning to close it out.

Robbie Ray got the win; Davis Martin got the loss; and Ryan Walker picked up his second save.

A win is a win, but it would have been nice had the Giants done better than going 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position tonight. I am going to keep harping on that, because the Giants getting their act together and getting consistent key RBI hits with runners in scoring position is the only way they will be able to make a run at the Playoffs in September.

The Giants improve to 65-63, but they remain three and a half games back of the Braves for the third wild card. The Braves beat the Phillies 3-1 in Atlanta.

Wednesday, the Giants can get the sweep; win their fourth-straight; and get back to their season-high three games over .500 on a Wednesday getaway game. Giants’ ace Logan Webb (11-8, 3.17 ERA) will make what seems to be a rare start after a win, and he will be opposed by left-hander Garrett Crochet (6-9, 3.61 ERA). First pitch will be at 12:45 p.m.

National League Wild Card Standings:

  1. Padres 72-55 +4.0
  2. Diamondbacks 71-56 +3.0
  3. Braves 67-58 —

Mets 65-61 2.5

GIANTS 65-63 3.5

Giants News and Notes:

Patrick Bailey was placed on the Injured List prior to Tuesday night’s game due to a right oblique strain. Catcher Jakson Reetz was called back up.

The St. Louis Cardinals released former Giant shortstop Brandon Crawford. Crawford, 37, was unable to get a major league deal from the Giants, but he got one from the Cardinals and signed during Spring Training. In just 28 games, Crawford hit .169, going 12-for-71 with one home run and just four RBIs.

With the Giants’ connection to their former players, especially those from the world championship teams of 2010, 2012 and 2014, you can’t help but wonder if a potential reunion could be in the works.