Category: MLB

San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Giants on cusp of getting swept in Colorado today

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The San Francisco Giants and Mike Yastrzemski seen here hitting a fifth inning triple against Colorado Rockies pitcher Kyle Freeman at Coors Field on Sat Jul 20, 2024 are hoping to avoid a three game sweep today (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman:

#1 The Colorado Rockies Ezequiel Tovar is rolling with his third homer in this third straight game which helped edge the San Francisco Giants on Saturday night 4-3

#2 The Rockies got good pitching from starter Kyle Freeland who improved going six innings and allowed three Giants runs.

#3 Giants pitcher Logan Webb who struggled in his All Star appearance no exception on Saturday night as Webb pitched six innings allowed eight hits, four runs, four hits, four walks, and struck out four hitters.

#4 Freeland kept the Giants off balance he threw four pitches for strikes and said he was filling in the strike zone.

#5 Giants are on the cusp of getting swept today in Denver. The Giants are going with starter RHP Hayden Birdsong (1-0, ERA 3.72) for the Rockies LHP Ryan Feltner (1-9, ERA 5.36). Stephen taking a look at this match up today Birdsong has had some good outings and Feltner has struggled and has nine loses coming into this game.

Stephen Ruderman is podcast contributor for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Webb braves through six innings and gives up four, and Giants’ offense unable to take advantage of Coors Field in 4-3 loss

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants starter Logan Webb is frustrated after giving up a bottom of the fifth inning home run to the Colorado Rockies Ezequiel Tovar at Coors Field in Denver on Sat Jul 20, 2024 (AP News photo)

Saturday, July 20, 2024

Coors Field

Denver, Colorado

San Francisco Giants 3 (47-52)

Colorado Rockies 4 (36-63)

Win: Kyle Freeland (2-3)

Loss: Logan Webb (7-8)

Save: Victor Vodnik (3)

Time: 2:14

Attendance: 44,178

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants have now dropped the first two games of this three-game series in Coors Field to start the second half, as Logan Webb braved through six innings but gave up four runs, and the Rockies held on for a 4-3 win on Saturday night.

The Giants were looking for a fresh start after a tough loss last night, and there were many reasons to feel better about Saturday night. First of all, their ace, Logan Webb, was on the mound. Second, they were facing Kyle Freeland, who came into tonight with an ERA of 6.00. Plain and simply, Freeland’s having a bad season.

Unlike last night, the sun was out as the game got underway, as Freeland pitched a 1-2-3 top of the first inning. Webb, who gave up three runs in the bottom of the third inning at the All-Star Game Tuesday in Arlington, Texas, had a rough go of things in the bottom of the first.

The Rockies loaded the bases right away with nobody out, and Elias Diaz grounded into a double play to score Charlie Blackmon for the game’s first run—of course, Diaz was not credited with an RBI, because you can not be credited with an RBI under any circumstances if you ground into a double play.

The Rockies got their next run when first-baseman Wilmer Flores made a bone-headed play. On a ground ball off the bat of Brenton Doyle that was headed right for second-baseman Thairo Estrada, Flores, who was playing halfway between first and second dove to his right to field it, and the ball spat out of his glove. The play was ruled an infield hit, and Ezequiel Tovar scored to make it 2-0 Colorado.

Both pitchers threw scoreless innings in the second, and Tyler Fitzgerald put the Giants on the board with a solo home run out to left-center field with one out in the top of the third. Webb narrowly escaped a jam in the bottom of the third, and Heliot Ramos was doubled off at first to end the top of the fourth.

Webb finally pitched his first 1-2-3 inning of the night in the bottom of the fourth, and the Giants were able to put Freeland in a hole in the top of the fifth after Mike Yastrzemski hit a one-out triple. Curt Casali struck out looking for the second out, and up came Fitzgerald.

The first pitch from Freeland to Fitzgerald was a slider at the knees called a ball by Home Plate Umpire Chris Conroy. The pitch was a nut cutter and could have gone either way, but Freeland did not like the call, and he made his frustration with Conroy quite clear when he lightly threw his arms in the air.

After Conroy took his mask off for a light stare at Freeland, the next pitch was a sinker off the outside corner for ball 2. As Freelend continued to stew, Rockies Pitching Coach Darryl Scott came out to calm down the left-hander.

It was expected that Scott would wait for Conroy to come to the mound to toss him, but Conroy stayed behind the plate and kept his mask on, and Scott went back to the dugout without incident. Fitzgerald then hit a double to left to score Yastrzemski and tie the game. Surprisingly, nobody ended up getting tossed at all.

It was a new game heading to the bottom of the fifth. However, the Rockies got right back ahead when Ezequiel Tovar hit a two-run home run to left to make it 4-2.

Freeland retired the first two men he faced in the top of the sixth. Matt Chapman then reached on an error, and Wilmer Flores lined a double out to center to make it 4-3. Webb, meanwhile, pitched a scoreless bottom of the sixth, and both pitchers were done.

For Webb, he braved through six innings, as he gave up four runs and eight hits. Webb also only threw one 1-2-3 inning. Hey, it was Coors Field, and Webb gave it his best.

Freeland’s outing was quite surprising, as he gave up just three runs, two of them earned over six innings. Though Freeland’s success had more to do with the Giants’ offense falling back on their old bad habits than anything else.

Anyway, as the clouds gathered above Coors Field, Nick Mears threw a 1-2-3 top of the seventh for Colorado, and Erik Webb did the same for the Giants in the bottom of the seventh. Mears threw another 1-2-3 inning in the top of the eighth as the rain started to fall, and Sean Hjelle threw a 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth for San Francisco.

Victor Vodnik then came in for the top of the ninth and closed this thing out with a 1-2-3 top of the ninth.

Kyle Freeland got just his second win of the season; Logan Webb took the loss; and Victor Vodnik picked up his third save.

The Giants’ offense has gone dark again. The fact that Kyle Freeland of all people was able to shut them down tonight was bad. Jorge Soler, Luis Matos, Matt Chapman, Thairo Estrada and Curt Casali went a combined 0-for-16. Soler struck out twice, and is once again struggling with runners in scoring position.

The Giants have fallen back to five games under .500 at 47-52, and now they are staring down the barrel of getting swept by the lowly Rockies. Hayden Birdsong (1-0, 3.72 ERA) will make his fifth big league start tomorrow, and he will be opposed by left-hander Austin Gomber (2-6, 4.61 ERA).

Giants News and Notes:

Robbie Ray struck out seven and gave up just one hit over five and a third shutout innings in what was likely his final rehab start for the Sacramento River Cats. He is expected to make his Giants’ debut in the team’s four-game series in Los Angeles next week.

A’s get run production from Rooker and Butler with 3 RBIs each to defeat Angels 8-2

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s Brent Rooker (25) slugs a bottom of the first inning three run home run in front of the Los Angeles Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat Jul 20, 2024 (AP News photo)

Los Angeles (41-57). 001 001 000. 2. 6. 0

Athletics (39-61). 300 400 10x. 8 11 1

Time: 2:29

Attendance: 14,574

Saturday, July 20, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–The A’s made it two in a row and clinched the series win against the Angels this lovely Saturday afternoon at the decrepit but, as ever, beautifully manicured Oakland Coliseum. They handily defeated their visitors from the south, 8-2, in a game whose outcome never was in doubt.

Mitch Spence, who started for the Athletics, began the season well, but his performance declined steadily since his first appearance of the season, on March 29. He had been 3-1, 2.84 through April 30. He pitched exclusively in relief through May 13, compiling a record of 4-2, 4.26, after which he joined the rotation. He was 4-4, 4.35 on June 30 and 5-6, 4.75 at game time. The 26 year old righty began to reverse that decline this afternoon.

Spence lasted 5-1/3 innings and allowed two runs, both earned, on five hits, three walks, and a wild pitch to get the win that lowered his ERA to 4.67. Scott Alexander (untouched in two thirds of an inning), Austin Adams (a walk and a strikeout in an inning), and Tyler Ferguson (one hit and a pair of strikeouts in two innings) followed him to the mound. He threw 85 pitches; 35 were balls.

Rookie Jack Kochanowicz, who began last year in High-A Tri-City, made his first big league appearance nine days ago in relief against Seattle. This afternoon marked his first start in the show.

It was not an impressive performance. The 23 year old right hander surrendered seven runs, all earned, on seven hits, one of them a home run, in four innings. He issued three free passes and struck out four Athletics. His pitch count reached 74 in his abbreviated mound tenure and took the loss, leaving him at 0-2, 14.14 Kenny Rosenberg replaced him in the fifth and held the A’s to one run on four hits and a walk.

The A’s picked up where they had left off in yesterday’s 13-3 thrashing of the visiting Angels. Brent Rooker took a 96 mph sinker 445 feet deep, into the left field seats above the American League scoreboard, with Miguel Andújar and JJ Bleday on base, to put the green and gold up 3-0 after an inning of play. It was his 22nd roundtripper and drove in his 63rd, 64th, and 65th runs batted in of 2024.

A combination of sloppy play by the Athletics and heads up baserunning by the Halos’ Jo Adell allowed Los Angeles to get back a run in the third. Adell led off with a walk, stole second, and advanced to third when catcher Kyle McCann couldn’t handle Spence’s third strike to Luis Guillome, forcing the throw to first that put Adell in position to score on Anthony Redon’s sacrifice line drive to left.

It was the bottom of the fourth that proved to be the Angels’ undoing. Brett Rooker and Kyle McCann singled, Harris and Max Schuemann walked, Lawrence Butler doubled to add four runs to the Athletics’ advantage.

The visitors drove Spence from the mound in the sixth. Zach Neto’s double down the left field line that went just under Harris’s glove at third plated Tyler Ward, who had led off with a walk and moved on to second on Logan O’Hoppe’s single to center. Scott Alexander, retiring with nine pitches. the two batters he faced to put out the fire.

The homeless wonders tacked on an insurance run in the seventh, courtesy of Schuemann’s leadoff double and Miguel Andújar’s RBI single off Rosenberg.

Both Butler and Andújar, the numbers one and two in the batting order, went three for four. The former drove in three runs; the latter, one. Rooker went two for three and had three RBI. Schuemann drove in the remaining tally.

Lower calf soreness forced Los Angeles first sacker Nolan Schanuel to leave the game after the top of the third.

Joey Estes (4-4, 5.29), who’s been on a tear recently, will pitch for the Athletics in their attempt to sweep the series when he goes against the Angels Carlos Fulmer (0-2, 3.45). The first pitch is scheduled for 1:07.

Oakland A’s podcast with Morris Phillips: Swinging A’s showing some consistent hitting

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

left to right the Oakland A’s Seth Brown (15), Brett Harris (77) congratulate Max Scheumann (12) on his three run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at the Oakland Coliseum on Fri Jul 19, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Morris Phillips:

#1 Morris, the A’s have been a hitting bunch of late. They took two out of three from the Philadelphia Phillies when the finished the first half of the season and they come back last night and won in lopsided contest beating the Los Angeles Angels 13-3.

#2 The A’s Max Scheumann contributed with a three run home run and had four RBIs in the ten run win against the Angels.

#3 The A’s JJ Bleday and Shea Langeliers both hit two run home runs. They’ve getting their share of extra bases but over the last week it’s been a huge improvement.

#4 Earlier this season the A’s were having issues with getting run production but in their last road trip against Boston and Philadelphia would you say that’s helped build their confidence?

#5 Angels and A’s match up again today at the Coliseum. The Angels will be starting RHP Jack Kochanowicz (0-1, 12.00 ERA) he’s matching up against the A’s RHP Mitch Spence (5-6, ERA 4.75).

Morris is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Scheumann leads A’s with homer and four RBIs to beat Halos 13-3 at Coliseum

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s Max Scheumann circles the bases after slugging a three run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at the Oakland Coliseum on Fri Jul 19, 2024 (AP News photo)

Los Angeles (41-56). 010 101 000. 3. 9 1

Athletics (38-61). 002 407 00x. 13 14 1

Time: 2:39

Attendance: 11,596

Friday, July 19, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–The A’s returned Friday night from the all-star break to demolish the Los Angeles Angels, whom they’re chasing for the third spot in the four team western division of the American League, in the first of a three game series. The 13-3 triumph would have been a laugher if it hadn’t included the loss of one of the Athletics’ brightest hopes.

Jacob Wilson, the A’s top draft choice and sixth overall last year, was promoted from Las Vegas earlier in the day and started at short, batting in the eighth slot. The Angels’ Anthony Rendon hit the first pitch of the game to him.

The debutant handled it cleanly and threw Rendon out at first. He also made a nifty play to initiate a 6-3 double play in the top of the third, shortly before leading off the bottom of the frame with a single to center in his first major league at bat.

This outstanding performance was cut short when Wilson was removed from the game between innings because of a strained left hamstring. An injury to his right leg had put the prospect on the IL from May 18 to June 24.

The Athletics sent southpaw JP Sears (6-7, 4.56 at game time) to the mound. Had been excellent, if not durable, in his two previous starts, giving up just one earned run in 10-2/3 innings of work on July 4th and 10th.

The holiday win was against the Angels at the Coliseum, where he shut them out over five frames while allowing two hits. He wasn’t as sharp Friday night but still managed to even his won-lost record at 7-7 by allowing three runs, two earned, in 5-2/3 of nine hit ball.

Two of those hits were for the distance. Such is life on a warm evening at the Coliseum, as the Angels’ pitching staff had a chance to learn. 69 of Sears’ 81 offerings qualified as strikes. He struck out four and didn’t issue any walks.

The outing lowered Sears’ ERA slightly, to 4.49. Austin Adams was the first man to replace Sears. He was wild in the beginning but didn’t allow any runs, inherited or otherwise, in his third of an inning on the mound.

Tyler Feruson, Osvaldo Bido, and Michel Otáñez each pitched a hitless and scoreless inning. Adams and Ferguson, at one apiece, were the only A’s relievers to issue a walk.

Opposing Sears and the A’s was Griffin Canning, the Angels’ second round draft choice in 2017. The 28 year old 6′, 180 lb right hander made his major league debut on April 30, 2019 and brought a lifetime record of 22-30, 4.64, accompanied by a season’s record of 3-9, 4.84, to the game.

Canning won the 2020 Gold Glove for American League pitchers. He missed all of the 2022 season with what was described as “a low back stress reaction.” Canning lasted a mere 3-1/3 frames, in which he threw 62 pitches, 38 for strikes. The six runs scored against him were earned and came on six hits, one a four bagger, and a couple of bases on balls. He took the loss and now has a record of 3-10 5.20.

Angels manager Ron Washington’s crew also called on Roansy Contreras, whom they list as a starter. He lasted two innings and gave up two runs, earned, on two hits before being replaced by Matt Moore in the sixth. It was not a felicitous move for the Angelinos.

The A’s scored seven runs in that frame, two of them charged to Contreras and the remainder to Moore. Hans Crouse (a perfect seventh that included a strike out), and infielder Luis Guillorme got the fallen Angels to the finish line without allowing another run.

The Halos took an early lead in the top of the second. Zach Neto hit a soft grounder in front of the plate. Sears made a nice play to grab it but threw off balance into left field for a two base error that put Neto on third. He scored easily on Jo Adell’s bloop single to right.

The A’s went ahead in the bottom of the third. Wilson went to second on a disengagement violation after his leadoff single. Max Schuemann beat out a grounder to third, and both runners scored on Lawrence Butler’s triple. Neto’s 13th homer of the year, a 397 foot fly clearly fair, but not by much, to left, evened the score in the top of the fourth.

The Athletics took the lead back and drove Canning from the mound in the bottom of that inning. Brett Harris, who had taken over Wilson’s spot in the batting order, drove in Zack Gelof, who reached first on a bunt single and advanced to second on a walk to Seth Brown, on. a single to left. Max Schueman then homered to left, his sixth round tripper of the year, driving in his 21st, 22nd, and 23rd runs of the season.

When Sears made his exit in the visitors’ sixth, the Angels had narrowed the score to 6-3 on Nolan Schanuel leadoff homer to right. He got two outs after that but allowed a pair of singles before being lifted in favor of Austin Adams, who threw two wild pitches and issued a walk but got Matt Thaiss to ground out to second to end the inning.

The homeless hosts blew the game open in the sixth, when they sent ten batters to the plate. The mixture of athletic prowess and angelic ineptitude featured

  • Schuemann’s double that scored Seth Brown, who had led off the inning with a walk; • a passed ball; • a throwing error by Angels right fielder Jo Adell that let Schuemann score on Lawrence Butler’s single; • JJ Bleday’s homer (his 12th) into the stairway in right; and • Shea Langeliers’ home run (his 18th) with Rooker (who had singled) on base.

In addition to Wilson’s sparkling defense, Seth Brown made a notable over the shoulder catch of Brandon Drury’s foul that he chased deep into foul territory close to the visitors’ bullpen in the top of the sixth, and Geloff set off sparks with his play on Adell’s lead off grounder in the top of the ninth.

They’ll be giving away José Canseco bobbleheads Saturday, before the 1:07 start. Mitch Spence (5-6, 4.75) is scheduled to start for the A’s. Fellow righty Jack Kochanowicz (0-1, 12.00) will face him for the Disneyland Dandies.

Giants blow solid start from Harrison in wild 7-3 loss at Coors Field

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants reliever Tyler Rogers reaction after he gave up a three run bottom of the eighth inning home run to the Colorado Rockies Jake Cave at Coors Field in Denver on Fri Jul 19, 2024 (AP News photo)

Friday, July 18, 2024

Coors Field

Denver, Colorado

San Francisco Giants 3 (47-51)

Colorado Rockies 2 (35-63)

Win: Jalen Beeks (6-4)

Loss: Tyler Rogers (1-3)

Time: 2:45

Attendance: 40,115

By Stephen Ruderman

Coors Field struck again to start the second half, as the Giants blew a 3-0 lead and a five-inning shutout performance from Kyle Harrison, and the Rockies came back to win a flatout weird game by a final of 7-3 on Friday night.

Following a thrilling win on a walk-off little league home run by Mike Yastrzemski on Sunday to cap off the first half, Logan Webb and Heliot Ramos went to Arlington, Texas for the All-Star Game, and the rest of the team had four much-needed days off. Friday night, they reconvened in Denver to open the second half and pennant race.

With the Giants playing at Coors Field, you just knew that it was going to be a weird and wild night. In fitting Coors Field fashion, it was overcast and rainy at the start of the game, as the Giants went down 1-2-3 against Rockies’ starter Cal Quantrill in the top of the first inning.

Kyle Harrison made the start for San Francisco Friday night in his third start back off the Injured List. In his first start back on July 6 in Cleveland, the Guardians got to him for four runs over three and a third innings. However, he fared much better last Friday, when he allowed just a run to the Twins over five and a third at Oracle Park. Harrison got off to a solid start Friday night with a scoreless bottom of the first.

Quantrill retired the first two men he faced in the top of the second, but Matt Chapman lined a double to left field with two outs, and Yastrzemski drew a walk. That brought up Thairo Estrada, who lined a base-hit to left that went under the glove of the diving Sean Bouchard in left and went to the wall. Two runs scored, and Estrada went into third with a triple.

Harrison pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the second, and the Giants had Quantrill back on the ropes in the top of the third. Jorge Soler lined a base-hit to right, and LaMonte Wade doubled Soler over to third. Heliot Ramos was unable to knock in Soler on a ground out to first base, but Bailey was able to on a ground out to second.

Harrison threw a scoreless bottom of the third, and Quantrill was in trouble once again in the top of the fourth. Chapman walked to start the inning, and Estrada was hit by a pitch with one out. The Giants then suffered a really bad break.

Brett Wisely hit a bullet off the bag at first that ricocheted and hit First Base Umpire Chris Conroy. The ball caromed over to first-baseman Michael Toglia, who slid to the bag to get Wisely. The ball was ticketed for extra bases, and the Giants were likely to get two more runs and a 5-0 lead, but it wouldn’t happen, and Soler struck out to end the inning.

Harrison survived a bit of a jam in the bottom of the fourth, and Quantrill threw a 1-2-3 top of the fifth. Harrison escaped another jam in the bottom of the fifth, and after 93 pitches over five shutout innings, he was done.

Harrison was solid, but his wildness, which has been his weakness, once again got to him Friday night. While he gave up just one hit, he walked four, which got him into trouble and extended his pitch count. Still, he has had two-straight solid outings, and he is having an all-around solid season.

Despite the tough break in the top of the fourth, the Giants seemed to be in control Friday night, but this was Coors Field, and as we all know, things can change very quickly. Quantill pitched a scoreless top of the sixth to end his night, and Randy Rodriguez took the ball for the Giants in the bottom of the sixth.

Elias Diaz was grazed by a pitch with one out, but after Home Plate Umpire Brian O’Nora sent him down to first, Diaz claimed he wasn’t hit. Bob Melvin challenged the call, and it was upheld. It was close, but one of three things happened: O’Nora blew the call; Diaz didn’t feel it; or Diaz was trying to pull an Albert Belle and wanted to keep hitting.

Anyway, Brenton Doyle immediately hit a home run out to left-center to put the Rockies on the board and make it a 3-2 game. The Giants wasted a golden opportunity against Tyler Kinley in the top of the seventh, and Ryan Walker came in and ran into trouble in the bottom of the seventh.

Jake Cave doubled to lead off the inning. Sam Hilliard got Cave over to third with a fly out to left, and Charlie Blackmon struck out swinging. Walker now had a chance to get out of the inning unscathed, and with the Giants’ lead still intact.

Ezequiel Tover was now the hitter, and he hit a ground ball half way between second and third that third-baseman Matt Chapman fielded to his left, 360’d and threw the ball away, which allowed Cave to score to tie the game.

It was a tough break, and Chapman, one of the most sure-handed third-basemen in all of Baseball, would probably tell you that he should have had Tovar at first. It was ruled a base-hit, and since Tovar moved to second, Chapman got a rare error. Rare, because errors have gone mostly extinct this season.

Off to the eighth! Jalen Beeks, who finished the top of the seventh for Kinley, was back out for the top of the eighth, and threw a 1-2-3 shutdown inning.

The very-reliable Tyler Rogers came in for the bottom of the eighth, but at Coors Field, he ran into trouble too. Brendan Rogers reached on an infield hit to short; Toglia doubled Brendan Rogers over to third; and Cave hit a three-run home run to right to give the Rockies their first lead of the night.

Sam Hilliard popped out to third for the first out, and Melvin brought in Luke Jackson, who struck out Blackmon for the second out. Tovar then lined a home run down the left field line to make it 7-3.

There’s no getting around it. That was a brutal bottom of the eighth inning. Rogers and Jackson combined for 44 pitches, and the Rockies scored four runs.

Victor Vodnik then finished off the game with an eight-pitch 1-2-3 top of the ninth.

Jalen Beeks got the win, and Tyler Rogers took the loss. The Giants fall to 47-51, and in order to bounce back tomorrow, they just have to acknowledge that this is Coors Field, where weird things happen.

Giants’ ace Logan Webb (7-7, 3.47 ERA), who gave up three runs in the bottom of the third in the All-Star Game on Tuesday will take the ball for San Francisco Saturday night in the second game of the series. He’ll be opposed by veteran left-hander Kyle Freeland (1-3, 6.00 ERA). First pitch will be at 6:10 p.m. in Denver, 5:10 p.m. back home in San Francisco.

Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: A’s say they’re in good shape on ballpark construction costs won’t need to use all $380 million of state money

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Sandy Dean a family business partner of Oakland A’s owner John Fisher addresses the Las Vegas Stadium Authority at the Las Vegas Convention Center on Thu Jul 18, 2024 regarding the financing of the Tropicana ballpark on the Las Vegas Strip. (photo by the Nevada Independent)

On the Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel:

#1 The Las Vegas Stadium Authority was notified by the Oakland A’s that they are in good financial standing and will not need to use all of the $380 million in public funds to pay for the construction towards the Tropicana ballpark on the Las Vegas Strip.

#2 The Stadium Authority met with Sandy Dean on Thursday. Dean a business partner with Oakland A’s owner John Fisher said the team is in “good shape” asked how the A’s are in good shape and where the finances were coming from to cover the $1.2 billion in construction costs Dean didn’t comment.

#3 Dean stated at the meeting that the A’s intend to use $350 million of the $380 million in public funds. Dean said the A’s never planned to use the full amount and that the remaining funding will be off set by debt financing.

#4 Public financing of the ballpark comes from transferable credits $180 million coming from the State of Nevada, another $120 million coming from Clark County bonds, and county infrastructure costs will run $25 million. So it looks like Nevada is ready to pitch in for their share of the costs.

#5 Still after the meeting the question of where Fisher was going to come up with his share of the construction costs at $1.2 million was an issue. In a March 2024 interview with the San Francisco Chronicle Fisher told the paper that payments for the construction costs at $200 million from debt, $500 million from the Fisher family, and another $500 million from investors. It’s mid July and there has been no word on where the money is coming from from Fisher’s share of the construction costs other than Dean saying the A’s are in “good shape” to cover the costs on the public money.

#6 News out of Sacramento Vivek Ranadive said that he’s prepared to spend millions for improvements to upgrade the park to MLB specs over the off season as the A’s will open the 2025 season at Sutter Health Park. The discussion of playing on turf has the Players Union concerned and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said all they have to do is put some water on the turf and that should cool things off and solve the problem.

Daniel Dullum does the Oakland A’s Relocation podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah: Reporters make it Miller Time with trade deadline talk with A’s closer

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Lots of questions for Oakland A’s reliever Mason Miller during the All Star Break in Arlington about possibly being traded before the July 30th deadline. Here is Miller throwing off the Oakland Coliseum mound. Miller leads the American League in saves with 15. (San Francisco Chronicle file photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 Jeremiah, Oakland A’s reliever Mason Miller said during the All Star Break he’s more focused on winning games and helping the A’s than focusing on the trade rumors.

#2 Miller was surrounded at the All Star Game and was pressed about the possibility of being traded before the July 30th trade deadline.

#3 Different members of the press were asking about what he thought about being traded and what would it be like to be on a pennant contending team Miller replied, “Until the day it happens, if it does, my loyalty and effort and all that lies in the clubhouse in Oakland.”

#4 Miller makes the MLB minimum at $740,000 and is under club control with the A’s through the 2029 season. Miller has been lights out all season throwing over 100 MPH and has an American League leading 15 saves is a sought after prospect that could be a closer on the Philadelphia Phillies or the New York Yankees making multi millions.

#5 The A’s open the second half of the season tonight at the Oakland Coliseum against the Los Angeles Angels. Starting pitchers for the Angels The last time these two teams met was at the Coliseum the A’s swept the Angels July 2-4 in a three game series. The A’s are coming off winning two out of three from the Phillies last weekend in Philadelphia. For a last place team the A’s do have their flashes.

Join Jeremiah for the A’s podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB All Star Game: American League Comeback Defeats National League 5-3 on a Very Hot Texas Evening

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The American League’s Jarren Duran of the Boston Red Sox goes yard for a bottom of the fifth inning home run against the National League at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Tue Jul 16, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Michael Roberson

ARLINGTON, Tex. — The American League overcame a three-run deficit, to capture the 2024 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, 5-3 over the visiting National League in Metropolitan Dallas.

Despite triple-digit temperatures, a full house (39,342) witnessed a great Mid-Summer Classic inside a cozy Globe Life Field with the roof thankfully closed. Boston Red Sox center fielder Jarren Duran earned the game’s MVP award, on the merits of his eventual game-winning two run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The first pitch was recorded at 7:19 pm CST, and the temperature at a cooler 99 degrees. The game opened with the ever so popular Shohei Ohtani taking first base on a walk, and Bryce Harper belting a double. However, the inning ended without a run to show for it.

In the top of the third inning, Ohtani was up again, with two men on base, To the delight of the National League fans, he blasted a three-run homer to right-center. The NL was up 3-0, and seemingly in control, That did not last long.

In the bottom of the frame, the AL came roaring back immediately.New York Yankees Juan Soto sliced a two-run double to center field, bringing his squad to within one. Next, David Fry knocked him in from second, with a liner to left field.. The game was tied 3-3 within a half inning.

In the bottom of the fifth, Duran (Ted Williams All-Star Game Most Valuable Player) broke the tie and essentially won the game on his two run homer a little over the midway point of the game. How apropos that he would win the award named after a legendary Red Sox player, and only the fifth in franchise history.

Obviously there was no more scoring the last four innings of the game, but there were a few elements left in the contest. The ASG only lasted 2:28, which is the shortest time since 1998 (2:26).

On a local note, San Francisco Giants center fielder Heliot Ramos came into the game in the top of the 8th inning. He struck out swinging in his lone at bat. Ironically, his cross-Bay neighbor, Oakland Athletics pitcher Mason Miller got credit for the AL win. His perfect fifth inning did it for him, and throwing 8 pitches clocking at 100 mph. The save went to Cleveland’s Emmanuel Clase.

The American League closed out an exciting, although HOT, All-Star Week with a two run victory, 5-3 in the Rangers’ house.

Next year the festivities will remain in the South: However, it will be in a National League locale in the Peach State, Atlanta in particular. They will have a lot to live up to.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: 2024 The Final Season of the A’s at the Coliseum (Part VIII) Krazy George and The Wave

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Krazy George works the Oakland Coliseum crowds in the 1980s during Oakland A’s games (photo by WBUR)

2024 The Final Season of the A’s at the Coliseum (Part VIII) Krazy George and The Wave

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

For over half a century, the Oakland Alameda-County Coliseum has been the home of the Oakland A’s. In addition to all the great games, including postseasons, World Series, and one All-Star Game, many colorful characters have been among the fans in attendance.

One person stands out, one big A’s fan and professional cheerleader, and his name is Krazy George Henderson, known to all as “Krazy George. Krazy George originated ‘the wave’. On October 15, 1981, Krazy George (80 years old this year) initiated the first wave among Oakland A’s fans.

It was recorded during a playoff game between the New York Yankees and the Oakland A’s. This moment was captured in history and seen by a national television audience. 1981 is one of the years Billy Martin managed the Oakland A’s, and at the time when Krazy George started the wave, I thought it was just another A’s fan but little did I know at that time he would become a professional cheerleader, the one that invented the wave for thousands and thousands of fans in attendance. Although it is generically organized, the wave still happens in many stadiums.

Krazy George was a local personality. In 1968, he was a student at Cal State San José and a member of the National Championship Judo team. After graduating, he continued cheerleading for local sporting events. He was famous for leading cheers with his hand drum in the early 1970s. He was also a High School teacher in Santa Clara.

The California Golden Seals of the National Hockey League (who played their home games at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena) hired Krazy George as a cheerleader. Krazy George Henderson worked as a professional cheerleader for various professional organizations. He was also hired for private events.

Another colorful character at A’s games was Stacy Samuels, Banjo Man, a Bay Area resident from Fairfax who attended many San Francisco 49ers games during history. Banjo Man stopped attending A’s games at the Oakland Coliseum during the COVID-19 pandemic. He was great fun. He would stop and play his happy Banjo right in front of our crowd microphone under our broadcast booth with his propelled head beanie.

If you wonder what happened to Krazy George Henderson, he is still around, enjoying his job. He has appeared at the San José Earthquake games in San José 2024 and at a San José State women’s volleyball game. A pioneer who invented the wave at the Oakland A’s games, Krazy George Henderson was a historic personality for Oakland A’s for over 50 years of fun at the Oakland Coliseum.

El Loco George es parte de la historia de los Atléticos en 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