Category: MLB

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants open homestand tonight against Diamondbacks in four game series

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San Francisco Giants Jorge Soler (2) is greeted after scoring by teammate Patrick Bailey (left) in the top of the second inning at LoanDepot Park in Miami on Wed Apr 17, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 San Francisco Giants pitcher rookie Keaton Winn went six innings and gave up just a run, gave up four hits and struck four batters and it stood up as the Giants wound up defeating the Miami Marlins at Loan Depot Park 3-1 on a Wednesday matinee.

#2 The Giants got hitting help from Thairo Estrada who got two hits and ended up scoring the go ahead run in the top of the seventh inning. Estrada can be clutch at times and he was the key player on Wednesday.

#3 Estrada has some speed too he had to race home when Nick Ahmed hit into a double play against Marlins pitcher DeClan Cronin.

#4 Winn who picked up his first win at 1-3 said that it was nice to get the monkey off his back and wasn’t trying to think of it and the win just came.

#5 The Giants return back to San Francisco tonight here at Oracle Park as they open a four game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks are just ahead of the fourth Giants in third place and like the Giants are playing .500 ball winning five of their last ten games. Starter for Arizona Ryne Nelson (1-2 ERA 5.27) and for San Francisco Logan Webb (1-0 ERA 3.80) first pitch under the lights at Oracle Park 6:45pm PDT.

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

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Ruiz welcomed back to the Show after 2 run blast

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Oakland A’s outfielder found himself demoted in the minor leagues after the first week of the season even though he was hitting above .400. Here he’s wearing a Last Dive Bar wrist band who are promoting that A’s owner John Fisher should sell the team. The Last Dive Bar has indicated that the A’s were offended by Ruiz wearing the wristband and that was the real reason he was demoted. All is forgiven as Ruiz is back up with the big club and hit a big fly against the St Louis Cardinals on Wed Apr 17, 2024 at the Oakland Coliseum. (photo from The Dive Bar on X)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 Jerry, when the Oakland A’s demoted outfielder Esteury Ruiz to triple A affiliate Las Vegas. At the time of the demotion Ruiz was hitting over .400 and last season led the A’s and American League in stolen bases. So the demotion had people scratching their head.

#2 Without complaining Ruiz took the demotion and in one of his at bats slugged a ball that hit the back of the bleachers at Las Vegas ball park. Ruiz cannot be denied and his production strong was promoted back to the big club Wednesday.

#3 The Last Dive Bar an A’s fan club who had been involved in the Summer of Sell, boycotts and reverse boycotts drives with the Oakland 68s had Last Dive Bar wristbands with their name on it and Ruiz and teammate Brent Rooker had been photographed with the wristbands on. Hence Rooker has not played much this season and is on the 10 day IL and has been hitting and Ruiz was sent down shortly after the photos were made public.

#4 All is forgiven now as Ruiz who the A’s brass can’t deny is back in the show and was in the line up yesterday slugged a two run home run which was key in the A’s win over the visiting St Louis Cardinals at the Coliseum.

#5 The A’s open a three game series to open their road trip on Friday night in Cleveland. For the A’s Joe Boyle (1-2 ERA 6.23) he’ll be opposed by the Cleveland Guardians Tristen McKenzie (1-2 ERA 6.23) first pitch 4:10pm PDT.

Join Jerry Feitelberg for the Oakland A’s podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Look who’s back: Ruiz returns belts homer A’s beat Cardinals 6-3

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Oakland A’s Esteury Ruiz slugged a two run homer in the bottom of the third inning against the St Louis Cardinals to help pace Oakland to a three run 6-3 victory over the Cardinals at the Oakland Coliseum on Wed Apr 17, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND–The A’s beat the visiting St. Louis Cardinals 6-3 on getaway day. The A’s sent Paul Blackburn to the hill Wednesday afternoon. Blackburn had not allowed a run in 19 and 1/3rd innings to start the season. Blackburn added three more innings to his record, holding the Cardinals scoreless for the first three innings.

The Cardinals plated three runs in the fourth to snap his streak. The A’s rallied in the fifth to regain the lead. The A’s bullpen did not allow a hit or a walk after taking over for Blackburn with two out in the sixth. The A’s won the game 6-3.

The A’s drew first blood in the bottom of the third. The Cardinals’ starter, lefty Steven Matz, walked rookie Max Schuemann to start the inning. A’s centerfielder, Esteury Ruiz, lined a shot over the left field wall to give the A’s an early 2-0 lead. It was Ruiz’s second big fly of the young season.

The Cardinal offense ignited in the top of the fourth, setting the stage for an exciting comeback. Lars Nootbaar led the charge with a single, followed by a single from Nolan Arenado, sending Nootbar to third. Cardinals’ DH Willson Contreras doubled, driving in Nootbar, and Arenado stopped at third. Blackburn struck out Nolan Gorman for the first out. Catcher Ivan Herrera added a single to drive in Arenado and Contreras to the excitement. The Cardinals surged ahead, leading 3-2 midway through the third inning.

The A’s demonstrated their resilience and strategic play in the bottom of the fifth, reclaiming the lead. Singles by Tyler Nevin and Zack Gelof set the stage, putting men on first and second with no outs. A’s catcher Shea Langeliers showcased his strategic thinking with a ground-rule double to drive in Nevin. Gelof would have scored, but the ball got stuck under the wall in center field.

Gelof had to go back to third. Abraham Toro’s ground out allowed Gelof to score, and Langeliers scored on a sacrifice fly, solidifying the A’s lead at 5-3 in favor of Oakland.

The A’s added another run in the bottom of the sixth. With two out, Ruiz reached on a fielder’s choice and stole second. A’s right fielder Tyler Nevin singled to drive in Ruiz with the sixth run of the game. The A’s led 6-3 after six.

The A’s bullpen did not allow a hit after starter Paul Blackburn exited in the sixth inning. The A’s win 6-3.

“The job our bullpen did again today [is] a reflection of the season so far,” said Manager Mark Kotsay. “Overall, [it] was a really solid day for our pitching staff.”

Game notes: With the win, the A’s are 8-11. The A’s are 7-4 after a 1-7 start. The Cardinals fall to 9-10.

Paul Blackburn was the winning pitcher. He is now 2-0 for the year. His line was five and 2/3rds innings, allowing three runs and six hits. Cardinals starter Steven Matz was the losing pitcher. His record is 1-1.

“It was kinda one of those days where [I] didn’t really have anything, I felt like,” said Blackburn. “[However], I kept the boys in it, the offense came through, and we were able to get a win. Anytime you get a win, it’s a good outing.”

“Overall, he managed the game as Paul does,” said Kotsay. “Ultimately, he gave us a chance to win, like he’s done all season. He grinded it in that last inning to get through it.”

The Line score for Oakland was six runs, ten hits, and no errors. The Line score for St. Louis was three runs, six hits, and no errors.

Oakland’s hitting stars were Ruiz, Nevin, and Langeliers. Ruiz blasted a 412-foot home run in the third to give the A’s a 2-0 lead. Nevin had a double and two singles. Langeliers’ double helped the A’s score three runs in the fifth.

The A’s used four relievers: T.J. McFarland, Austin Adams, Lucas Erceg, and Mason Miller. Miller earned his fourth save of the season.

The time of the game was two hours and 30 minutes, and 9,551 fans watched the Green and Gold pick up their eighth win.

“We’re playing great baseball right now,” said Blackburn. “The energy has been I think at [an] all-time high right now for us. It’s not just coming from guys [playing every day]. It’s coming guys that are on the bench…..it’s coming from everyone. It’s definitely a group effort right now, and it shows. The come-from-behind wins that we’ve had this year, it gives us a lot of confidence moving forward. [When] we do get down, it’s not like we don’t have a chance. We’re fighting out every at-bat, we’ve thrown the ball well, we[‘ve] hit the ball well and [we’ve played] good defense. We’re playing some really good baseball right now.” 

“I haven’t been here too long, but [there] doesn’t seem to be any egos,” said Nevin. 

The A’s are off on Thursday as they are on their way to play the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland for three games starting Friday night. Joe Boyle (1-2, 5.68) will pitch for Oakland. Triston, McKemzie (1-2, 6.23) will be on the mound for Cleveland. The game will start at 4:10 pm.

Giants Squeeze out series win in Miami with 3-1 win over Marlins

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San Francisco Giant Thairo Estrada is greeted by teammates in the Giants dugout after scoring in the top of the seventh inning against the Miami Marlins at LoanDepot Park in Maimi on Wed Apr 17, 2024 (AP News photo)

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

LoanDepot Park

Miami, Florida

San Francisco Giants 3 (8-11)

Miami Marlins 1 (4-15)

Win: Kyle Harrison (2-1)

Loss: Declan Cronin (0-2)

Save: Camilo Doval (3)

Time: 2:24

Attendance: 8,290

By Stephen Ruderman

Keaton Winn pitched six solid innings, and the Giants were able to squeeze out a series win in Miami with a 3-1 getaway win over the Marlins.

The Giants, who have been off to a slow start this season, came into Miami after losing two out of three to the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field to face a Marlins team off to a horrendous start. This was a golden opportunity for the Giants and their offense to finally get things going.

However, things have been much more difficult for the Giants than they would have hoped. The Giants were able to come back from down 3-0 to beat the Marlins in a weird game Monday night, but they dropped the second game of the series last night.

Today, the Giants turned to Keaton Winn to try and take the series in a getaway Wednesday afternoon affair in Miami. Winn and the Giants would be opposed by the left-hander, Trevor Rogers.

Rogers set the Giants down 1-2-3 in the top of the first inning, and Winn pitched a scoreless bottom of the first thanks to his defense after giving up a one-out base-hit to Bryan De La Cruz.

Jorge Soler lined a single up the middle and into center field to start the second. Matt Chapman struck out swinging, and then Thairo Estrado hit a double down the left field line to score Soler.

Jesus Sanchez singled to right to start the bottom of the second, but Winn retired the side in order. The game turned into a pitcher’s duel in the early going, as Winn set down nine-straight after Sanchez’s single, and Rogers retired 11-straight Giants after Estrada’s RBI double.

Winn’s streak came to an end when Tim Anderson legged out an infield single to lead off the bottom of the fifth, but Winn got out of it thanks to a fly out by Nick Gordon, and a 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Otto Lopez.

Tyler Fitzgerald lined a base-hit to left to start the sixth. Austin Slater struck out swinging, and Wilmer Flores fouled out, but Jung-hoo Lee reached on an infield hit to the shortstop. That would do it for Trevor Rogers, and Marlins Manager Skip Schumaker brought in Declan Cronin. Soler walked to load the bases, but Chapman grounded out to second to end the inning.

The Giants’ offense had wasted another opportunity, which they have done far too many times in the early going here in 2024, and it would come back to bite them in the bottom of the sixth. Winn retired the first two men he faced in the bottom of the sixth, but De La Cruz tied the game with an opposite-field home run to right.

Cronin was back out for the Marlins in the top of the seventh, and he was right back in trouble, as Estrada and Patrick Bailey both singled to put runners at the corners with nobody out for the Giants.

Nick Ahmed came up and reached for an outside slider that he sharply hit off the end of the bat up the middle, but Marlins’ second-baseman Luis Arraez dove to hit right, stepped on second and threw to first for the 4-3 double play. The Giants did retake the lead on the play, but it was a tremendous play by Arraez, and a tough break for the Giants.

Erik Miller came in and threw a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh, and Anthony Bender replaced Cronin for the top of the eighth. Bender retired LaMonte Wade and Wilmer Flores to start the inning, but Lee and Soler singled to put runners at first and second with two outs for Chapman, who doubled to right to score Lee.

The Giants led 3-1 in the bottom of the eighth, as Bob Melvin turned to his submariner, Tyler Rogers. Rogers got Nick Gordon to ground out to first, but Avisail Garcia and Emmanuel Rivera singled with one out to put Rogers on the ropes. Fortunately for Rogers, he was able to get Luis Arraez to ground into a 4-6-3 double play to get out of the inning.

Sixto Sanchez came in and walked Patrick Bailey to start the ninth. Bailey even stole second, but Ahmed and Tyler Fitzgerald were both called out on strikes, and Mike Yastrzemski flew out to left to end the inning.

Camilo Doval came in to try and notch down his third save of the season, and he pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth to close this one out. It wasn’t easy, but the Giants were able to take two out of three from the Marlins to win just their second series of the season.

Winn got his first win of the season; Cronin got the loss; and Doval got his third save.

The Giants improve to 8-11, and they will indeed have a happy flight home, as they will begin a 10-game homestand tomorrow night against the defending National League Pennant Winners, the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Giants will send their ace, Logan Webb, to the mound against the Diamondbacks at Oracle Park tomorrow night with first pitch at 6:45 p.m.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Warriors – Thanks for the Memories

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The Golden State Warriors bench looked tired and ready for the end of the 2023-24 season as they dropped their Play In Game to the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Tue Apr 16, 2024 (AP News photo)

Warriors – Thanks for the Memories

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The dynasty of NBA titles in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022 has ended as we move into a period of uncertainty, huge decisions, and big changes for the team. In the NBA, there is a trend of the ‘no 10th seeded team advancing to the playoffs from the Play-In’.

The Golden State Warriors were eliminated when they lost 118-94 in Sacramento to the Sacramento Kings; the score shocked many. Suddenly, Sacramento has become sort of a villain when it comes to Bay Area sports.

Oakland groups opposing Oakland A’s owner John Fisher from selling the team and moving them to Sacramento (and ultimately to Las Vegas) beginning next year and at least from 2025 to 2027 have pledged they will also travel to Sacramento to continue what they have called “the summer of SELL” some more more radical A’s fans are calling it “The Summer of Hell”. I do not think Mr.Fisher will sell, not yet, but once and if the team moves to Las Vegas, then (about selling) like they say in Vegas “all bets are off”.

Although the Warriors have nothing to do with the world of the A’s, it is interesting that California’s Capital is now focused on major league sports. But, as far as the Golden State Warriors, in the 2024-25 season, they have lost some of that “Shine” they used to enjoy.

But they know nothing will last forever. What is very active and present in Sacramento is Mr.Vivek Ranadivé, owner of the Sacramento Kings and the Sacramento River Cats, and he was a thrilled man last night. As far as the Warriors? Fans should thank them for the Memories, as they might have a different team next season. Some huge decisions must be made in the “not too far” future.

Warriors superstar Stephen Curry had an honest quote after his team’s defeat in Sacramento. “We all got to look at ourselves in the mirror and figure out what we individually can do better. In those deciding moments of a game, better decisions, better discipline to not foul, all the little things that we know impact winning. That’s the only way we’re going to get out of this little funk where you’re playing hard, and you have nothing to show for it.”

Curry is an honest man who, this month said he is thinking of running for President of the United States. This is quite a statement since honesty is not abundant in today’s political world. As the famous quote goes, “We know a politician is lying when his lips are moving.”

I can appreciate the Warrior’s success; I was a witness as a broadcaster in the 1990s for the Warriors, broadcasting all their games in Spanish home and away with the team (by the way, I was the only Spanish broadcaster they ever had).

Although they had inspiring players, like Chirs Mullin and good teams, they never enjoyed such a championship run as the 2000s Warriors. So, congratulations to owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber for their success; they deserve it. Unlike other owners, I have never heard one Bay Area fan complaining about the Warrior’s current ownership. How could you?

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s bow to Cardinals 3-2 in front of season’s smallest crowd 3,296; Whitey Herzog honored before game

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Oakland A’s second baseman Zack Gelof left tags out St Louis Cardinals runner Brendan Donavon (right) trying to steal second in the top of the seventh at the Oakland Coliseum on Tue Apr 16, 2024 (AP News photo)

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

St. Louis (8-9). 001 002 000. 3. 4. 1

Athletics (7-11). 010 010 000. 2. 5. 1

Time: 2:29

Attendance: 3,296

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–Forget about the 5.17 earned run average that JP Sears brought with him to tonight’s bout with the St. Louis Cardinals and instead focus on how brilliantly he had performed in his previous start, 6-1/3 one hit innings against the Rangers in Arlington five day ago.

Tuesday night the 28 year old lefty with a little over a year’s seniority in the show wasn’t quite as sharp, but he was damned good. He went five innings and allowed one run, earned, on two hits and three walks, while striking out a couple of Cards. He threw 82 pitches, 51 for strikes, and left with a no decision and a record of 1-1, 4.35.

The Cards sent starboarder Lance Lynn, a veteran of over a dozen years of the major league wars, against the A’s promising southpaw. The journeyman brought an 0-0, 2.63 mark to the game with him and was in vintage form tonight.

He lasted seven full frames and held the Athletics to two runs, only one of which was earned. He yielded five hits, one of which left the park, and a walk., He also notched a K. 65 of his 101 pitches were counted as strikes. He reduced his ERA to 2.18 and finally broke into the win column; he’s now 1-0. Athletic speed combined with sloppy Redbird fielding put the A’s ahead, 1-0, in the second.

Tyler Nevin beat out a single to short and advanced to second on Maysn Winn’s errant throw. He scored on Kyle McCann’s single to center. All the outs in that frame came on fly balls to the warning track. Two of them were corralled at the wall.

The Cards evened things up in their next turn at the plate. Sears walked Masyn Winn, who promptly stole second. Jordan Walker lived up to his name. Both of them advanced 90 feet on Michael Siani’s sacrifice to third. Brendan Donovan’s grounder to third brought Winn home with the tying tally.

McCann unknotted the score with a lead off four bagger on a full count four seamer, a 385 foot blast over the auxiliary scoreboard in right center field, in the bottom of the fourth, his first major league home run.

Dany Jiménez relieved Sears for the visitors’ sixth, and his turn on the mound was a disaster, mostly his fault but aggravated by a throw to nowhere by JJ Bleday. Arenado led off with a clean single to left. Jiménez walked Iván Herrera and Lars Nootbaar.

Winn then lifted a sacrifice fly to Bleday in center. That brought Arenado home while the two others held their base. That is, until Bleday heaved a slovenly throw to a spot in the infield that was nowhere near any possible cutoff man.

So now there were two runners in scoring position, and Walker’s fly to right became a sacrifice fly that brought Herrera across the plate with the leading run. TJ McFarland took over and retired Michael Siani out, so when Mitch Spence, who was the A’s’ last pitcher of the game, strolled to the mound to open the top of the seventh, the A’s were looking up at a 3-2 St. Louis lead.

Jolo Romero retired the hosts 1,2,3 in the eighth, and Ryan Helsley came through with an equally clean bottom of the ninth to earn his seventh save and second in two days.

This afternoon the Oakland City Council, Oakland Redevelopment Successor Agency, and the Geologic Abatement Board met to discuss the Ballers’ proposal to make $1.6 million of improvements to Raimondi Park. As of this writing, I haven’t heard the outcome of that meeting.

Former St Louis Cardinal manager Whitey Herzog passed away on Tuesday at 92 years old and was honored on the Oakland Coliseum scoreboard before the game. Herzog managed the Cardinals from 1980-1990.

The A’s and the Cardinals will meet again tomorrow, Wednesday, afternoon at 12:37. Paul Blackburn will take his immaculate record of 1-0, 0.00 against Steven Matz’s 1-0, 1.80).

Giants Drop Game Two to Marlins 6-3

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Ryan Walker (left) waits on the mound to be relieved as he’s joined by third baseman Matt Chapman (right) in the bottom of the sixth inning at Loan Depot Park in Miami on Tue Apr 16, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants took a 2-0 lead going into the bottom of the fourth in their series with Miami Tuesday. The Marlins were able to tie up the game 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth and extended their lead in the sixth inning scoring three times. Miami scored one more run in the seventh inning winning this game 6-3 and tying up the series.

Jordan Hicks took the mound for the Giants for game two and Ryan Weathers started for the Marlins.

San Francisco took a 2-0 lead after the first three innings. Matt Chapman hit a solo home run in the second inning for an early 1-0 lead. Wilmer Flores doubled in the third inning driving Austin Slater home extending the Giants lead to 2-0.

Miami had a quiet first three innings but came alive in the fourth inning tying the game 2-2. Bryan De La Cruz doubled and base runner Luis Arraez scored and the Marlins were on the board 2-1. Jesus Sanchez grounded into a fielder’s choice to shortstop and De La Cruz scored on a San Francisco error. Going into the fifth inning this game was tied 2-2.

Miami took the lead in the sixth inning. Tim Anderson grounded into a fielder’s choice to third and base runner Josh Bell crossed home plate giving the Marlins their first lead of the game 3-2. With two outs, Miami had the bases loaded with the Luis Arraez at the plate. Arraez singled driving Tim Anderson and Emmanuel Rivera home extending the Marlins lead to 5-2.

Starter Jordan Hicks went five innings for San Francisco allowing 3 hits, 2 runs with 5 strikeouts. Ryan Walker came in to relieve. Miami starting pitcher Ryan Weathers went six innings allowing 5 hits, 2 runs with 10 strikeouts. Burch Smith relieved Weathers in the seventh inning.

The Giants go something going in the seventh inning. With runners on second and third and one out, LaMonte Wade singled, Michael Conforto scored and Nick Ahmed advanced to third. With the one out, San Francisco was in business but still trailing 5-3. Wilmer Flores came to the plate and hit into a double play and the scored remained 5-3 in favor of Miami. This was a lost opportunity for San Francisco.

In the bottom of the seventh inning with two on base Miami’s Nick Gordon ripped a single into right field and Jesus Sanchez scored giving the Marlins a 6-3 lead going into the eighth inning. The Marlins went into the ninth three outs away from winning game two and tying up this series one apiece.

Lefty Tanner Scott took the mound looking to close out this game for the Marlins. Scott did not have any command walking Ahmed and Tyler Fitzgerald back-to-back and the Giants had two on with only one out. Unfortunately Wilmer Flores popped out and Miami had evened up the series winning this game 6-3.

Game notes: Tuesday evening the Giants played the second game of their series with Marlins at Loan Depot Park. Monday, the Giants took game one winning on a single run game 4-3. The Giants rallied in the seventh inning with 3 runs beating the Marlins. Wilmer Florres gave San Francisco the lead with a RBI single in the seventh inning. The Marlins are struggling, they are worst team in the NL, and it all came to a head when Miami manager Skip Schumaker was ejected by the plate umpire in the eighth inning. They did pick up game two of the series Tuesday night in a 6-3 win at LoanDepot.

Game three is scheduled for 9:40 AM tomorrow. Keaton Winn (0-3 ERA 5.06) will take the mound for the Giants and Trevor Rogers (0-2 ERA 4.80) will start for the Marlins. San Francisco will be looking to take the series and the Marlins will be looking for their fifth win of the season.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Could a Mayor Thao recall get a better Mayor for A’s to work with? Aramark’s employee gag order from media how long will that last?

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Oakland voters are hoping to uproot Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao in a recall. If successful the question is if the Oakland A’s ballpark deal falls apart in Las Vegas can a new Oakland mayor make a new pitch to the A’s to get them to stay and build a park in Oakland? (AP file photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commenary podcast:

#1 Food and beverage concessionaires at the Oakland Coliseum have been told in a 99 worded company letter they had better keep their opinions about lay offs, the A’s relocation to Sacramento, or any business related issues regarding Aramark to the media or reporters. Aramark also said that “violations of this policy are subject to discipline up to and including termination.”

#2 Aramark who serves food and beverages to nine Major League Stadiums and is a Forbes Fortune 500 holder and is the 50th largest employer in America. Is the issue of the lay offs a huge concern for Aramark and is putting a muzzle on the Coliseum concession employees a prevention from any negative publicity because of the layoffs after this last season in Oakland for the Aramark employees.

#3 Amaury, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao could face a recall. Currently Oaklanders are trying to put together a petition drive to get a ballot initiative to get Thao recalled. If successful and its long shot could a new mayor try and get together with the Oakland A’s and try and work something out for a stadium if the Las Vegas deal falls through.

#4 Mayor Thao has surmounting complaints from City of Oakland residents who want her removed because of the firing of Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong, the huge crime that has forced retailers particularly in downtown Oakland and Chinatown to either fold their businesses or move, and the Airport corridor has seen car break ins and crime at their local restaurants including the high profile In and Out Burger and Denny’s close and shutter their businesses. Now with the recent rent offer by the City of Oakland and the Coliseum Joint Authority of $97 million for the A’s to rent the Coliseum was so inflated that it chased off A’s team president David Kaval who the next day chose to have the A’s play their interim years in Sacramento. Many critics said this was poor handling of business from the City of Oakland and the appearance of gouging on the City’s part.

#5 In the event of a new Oakland Mayor takes over for a recalled Thao that new mayor could call the A’s back to the bargaining table if Vegas were to fall apart and offer the A’s a sweetheart deal. Here is the scenario come back to the Coliseum from Sacramento for $3 million a year. Offer to bridge the gap that the City and A’s were apart on for Howard Terminal and that money some $97 million (sound familiar) and the money will be paid back on taxes on ticket sales and concessions and parking.

#6 The current plan to have the A’s in Sacramento if Las Vegas fails won’t work from the marketing and sponsorship aspect. What works for the NBA Sacramento Kings in advertising might not work for the A’s who will see that money get divided in half when they and if they build a 30,000 seat stadium in Sacramento. The A’s would be playing in the 20th TV market while it’s likely they can get the support but owner John Fisher’s TV revenue will also come down from what he’s getting in Oakland at $70 million versus what he would get in Sacramento around $35 million.

#7 If you follow the money whether it’s in Las Vegas or Sacramento the A’s lose. TV money always rules the day even if the A’s were to get good crowds they leaving Oakland will hurt their pockets by walking away from their $70 million TV contract with NBC California. If Oakland changes it’s mayors maybe the A’s could consider changing their minds.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice at 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

Cards Gray haunts A’s in 3-1 win at Coliseum on Monday night

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Oakland A’s rightfielder Lawrence Butler (4) makes a dive to catch the baseball in the top of the fourth inning St Louis Cardinals Jordan Walker’s fly ball at the Oakland Coliseum on Mon Apr 15, 2024 (AP News photo)

Monday, April 15, 2024

St. Louis (8-9). 100 002 000. 3. 8. 0

Athletics (7-10). 000 000 010. 1. 5. 0

Time: 2:19

Attendance: 5,508

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–A cursory glance at the roster of Monday night’s visitors, the St. Louis Cardinals, reminds you of the historical connection between baseball in the Gateway City and the game in city and town by the Golden Gate. The Cardinals got good pitching and two runs in the sixth inning to defeat the Oakland A’s 3-1 at the Oakland Coliseum.

Sonny Gray, starting for the Redbirds, threw his first big league pitch on July 10, 2013, for the Oakland Athletics, who had chosen him in the first round of the 2011 draft. Exactly one month later, he chalked up his first win in the show. 2014 was his first full season.

That year he logged 183 strikeouts, was named American League pitcher of the month in April and again in July, and threw a complete game shutout of the Rangers to clinch a playoff spot for the A’s. In the season’s opener the next year, Gray picked up where he had left off, holding the Rangers scoreless with only one hit and a walk over eight innings, in which he threw an economical 98 pitches.

A year and a half laer, at the 2017 trade deadline, Oakland sent him to the Bronx and some international bonus slot cash considerations. In return, the Athletics received Dustin Foster, James Kaprielian, and Jorge Mateo.

It was the first trading deadline deal that Oakland consummated under the presidency of David Kaval. Gray’s entry in the Cardinals’ media guide occupies five pages. Another Bay Area favorite in that publication, Brandon Crawford gets six pages. It almost seems as if the two metropolitan regions had a sister cities exchange program. Think of Tony LaRussa. Think of Dave Duncan. Think of Mark McGuire.

Ross Strippling, the Athletics’ starter, has been a travelling man. The A’s are the fourth major league team he’s pitched for in his 7+ years in the show. He took the mound with a 1-3, 5.48 record against St. Louis, and was 0-3, 5.50 in his three previous starts this season.

Monday night, he lasted 5-2/3 innings, in which he gave up three runs, all of which were earned, although one of them was posthumous, allowing half a dozen hits and a pair of free passes. He struck out three, and 67 of his 101 offerings went into the book as strikes . He was the losing pitcher and now has a slate of 0-4, 5.32).

Shortly before play began, the A’s announced that JD Davis had been placed on the 10 day injured list and that the speedy Esteury Ruíz, whose recent demotion had been strongly criticized, had been recalled from their triple A Las Vegas affiliate. His brief appearance in the eighth was your A’s highlight for tonight.

St. Louis and the team from a city to be determined later began the evening with identical records of 7-9. This was unremarkable for the Cards, since they had finished 2023 at 71-90, it signified that the A’s were on a roll. For one thing, after last year’s horrendous 50-112 anything would be an improvement.

For another, the A’s had won six of their previous eight encounters. That’s impressive, even if the last two of those victories came over the lowly Washington Nationals. The green and gold’s performance on the field probably will afford their fans plenty of aggravation this year, but the 2024 version of the squad is no joke. Tonight, they were outplayed, or better, outpitched, but they performed respectably.

A base on balls to Paul Goldschidt, Lars Nootbaar’s sacrifice to the mound, and a single to left by Nolan Arenado got the Cardinals off to a jump start in the first. Things stayed that way until the top of the sixth. Nootbaar defied The Curse of the Leadoff Double by scoring on a one out double to left by Wilson Contreras. A ground out and walk later, Michael Kelly relieved Stripling, and Jordan Walker singled to put the Cards up, 3-0.

Gray turned in another shutout inning in the sixth and then retired for the evening, giving way to Andrew Kittridge. The veteran had needed only 72 pitches (50 for strikes) to complete those six innings, in which the total damage the A’s inflicted on him came to four hits. He earned the win and now can boast of a perfect 2-0, 0.00 record until his next start.

Kittredge pitched a perfect seventh and was succeeded by Jojo Romero for the eighth. The newly recalled Ruíz pinch hit for Lawrence Butler, took a slider for a strike and then took an 85mph change of pace 405 feet deep, into the left centerfield seats for his first dinger of the year. The Athletics now trailed, 3-1. The game was in reach.

Austin Adams kept the Cards off the board in the top of the ninth in spite of a single, a sacrifice, and a passed ball that put a runner on third with two down.

The Redbirds’ Ryan Helsley earned his sixth save of the year with a 1,2,3 bottom of the ninth. That’s 75% of his team’s wins that the righty reliever has saved.

Monday was Jackie Robinson Day, and everyone wore number 42. This is supposed to be a tribute to a courageous and complex man, to whom all of us owe a great debt. But the idea that Monday—or any other day—we’re all Jackie Robinsons diminishes his stature, It also makes it hard to tell who is doing what to whom on the field, but it’s good for the corporate image of the baseball cartel.

Tuesday, at 6:40 Lance Lynn (0-0, 2.63) will toe the rubber against the Athletics, who will send JP Sears (1-1.5.17)

Harrison settles down and Giants come back to beat Marlins 4-3 in weird game Miami

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San Francisco Giants Nick Ahmed scores on a Wilmer Flores hit which was the go ahead run in the Giants three run rally in the top of the seventh inning at Loan Depot Park in Miami on Mon Apr 15, 2024 (AP News photo)

Monday, April 15, 2024

Loan Depot Park

Miami, Florida

San Francisco Giants 4 (7-10)

Miami Marlins 3 (3-14)

Win: Kyle Harrison (2-1)

Loss: George Soriano (0-1)

Win: Tyler Alexander (1-0)

Loss: Blake Snell (0-2)

Save: Camilo Doval (2)

Time: 2:36

Attendance: 8,290

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants got a much-needed win in a flat-out weird game, as Kyle Harrison settled in for a quality outing after struggling early on, and the Giants came back with three runs in the top of the seventh inning to beat the Marlins 4-3.

The Giants came into Miami after losing two out of 3 against the Tampa Bay Rays over the weekend across the state in St. Petersburg. The good news was that the Giants’ offense had finally woken up, as they scored 11 runs on Saturday, and another four yesterday.

The even better news was that the Giants were coming into Miami to play a Marlins team that was off to an abysmal 3-13 start. The Giants would be up against Edward Cabrera, who would be making his 2024 debut after starting the season on the Injured List due to a right shoulder injury he sustained during Spring Training.

Jung-hoo Lee singled to start the game, but he was caught trying to steal second base, and the Giants went down scoreless in the top of the first inning.

Kyle Harrison made his fourth start of the year and struggled early. After wiggling his way out of a jam in the bottom of the first, his first pitch of the bottom of the second was hit out of the park to left field by Asival Garcia.

Harrison got the next two guys out, but he quickly ran into more trouble. Otto Lopez and Luis Arraez singled, and Bryan De La Cruz hit a line drive to left that went under and past the glove of the diving Michael Conforto. Lopez scored, and when Arraez was waved in, the relay throw from shortstop Nick Ahmed sailed to the backstop.

The Giants trailed the 3-13 Marlins 3-0 going to the third, and they responded by going down 1-2-3 in the top of the third. Harrison walked Tim Anderson to start the bottom of the third, but Anderson was thrown out trying to steal second, and Harrison had himself a mostly-quiet inning.

The Giants only had one hit over the first three innings, but they finally appeared ready to break through against Cabrera in the top of the fourth. Lee walked to start the inning, and after LaMonde Wade struck out swinging for the first out, Jorge Soler singled on a ground ball the other way to right to put runners on the corner with one out for Michael Conforto.

Conforto hit a ground ball that ricocheted off the glove of Marlins’ second-baseman Luis Arraez and into right-center for a base-hit to score Lee and put the Giants on the board. It was now 3-1, and the Giants had runners at first and second with one out, but Matt Chapman struck out looking, and Thairo Estrada grounded into a force out to end the inning.

The Giants’ offense wasted a golden opportunity in the top of the fourth, but fortunately for the Giants, Harrison finally settled down, as he pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the fourth. Cabrera pitched a scoreless top of the fifth, and Harrison a 1-2-3 bottom of the fifth, as Harrison had set down eight-straight Marlins.

Wade hit a long single off the wall in right to lead off the top of the sixth, but after Soler and Conforto struck out, Wade was caught stealing to end the inning. Meanwhile, Harrison pitched a scoreless 1-2-3 bottom of the sixth.

Harrison struggled early on, but he settled down to retire 11 of the final 12 men he faced, and ended up pitching a quality outing.

Cabrera was also done after six, and he did not disappoint in his season debut, as he walked just one and struck out 10 over six innings.

Cabrera was relieved by George Soriano for the top of the seventh. Chapman lined out to center to start the inning, but Thairo Estrada lined a double down the left field line, and advanced to third on a wild pitch to Mike Yastrzemski, who eventually walked.

The Giants had runners at the corners with one out for Patrick Bailey, who knocked in Estrada with a sacrifice fly to left to make it 3-2. Nick Ahmed walked, and Marlins Manager Skip Schumaker pulled Soriano for the lefty, Andrew Nardi, who would face the top of the Giants’ order.

Lee came up and battled Nardi until he was able to hit a fastball over the outer half of the plate the other way to left for a base-hit to knock in Yastrzemski and tie the game. Wilmer Flores, who has not seen much playing time early this season, but has been money for the Giants in key RBI situations over the last four years, came through with a line-drive single up the middle to score Ahmed and give the Giants their first lead of the night.

Bob Melvin brought in the submariner, Tyler Rogers, for the bottom of the seventh. Otto Lopez reached on a throw in the dirt by Ahmed at short to start the inning. Luis Arraez then laid down a bunt on the first base side that he seemed likely to beat out, but Rogers dove to his left, and flipped the ball to first to get Arraez. It was a great play by Rogers, who was not fazed by the early-inning drama, and set down the next two men he faced to end the inning.

Bryan Hoeing pitched a 1-2-3 top of the eighth for the Marlins, and Ryan Walker came in for the Giants in the bottom of the eighth. Walker got Tim Anderson to ground out to third; gave up a single to Jazz Chisholm; and struck Avisal Garcia out looking.

Then there was some real confusion. Melvin summoned his closer, Camilo Doval, from the bullpen to come in for a four-out save, but for whatever reason, the lefty, Taylor Rogers, came in from the bullpen when Melvin clearly motioned for the right-hander, Doval. Rogers was stopped, and went back to the bullpen, as Doval came in.

Meanwhile, Schumaker was furious that the umpires did not start the warmup clock, and felt like Doval should have been limited in his warmup throws as a result. Schumaker made his frustrations with Home Plate Umpire and Crew Chief quite clear, but surprisingly wasn’t ejected.

Dee Gordon came up to the plate, and on the first pitch to Gordon, which was a strike, Chisholm stole second. Then Schumaker came back out of the dugout and was tossed by Diaz, as Schumaker believed that Doval had thrown a pair of warmup pitches after the clock expired, which if true, should have resulted in two automatic balls. Gordon struck out looking, and that would be that.

Hoeing was back out for the ninth, and pitched a scoreless inning after walking Bailey to start the inning. Doval was back out for the bottom of the ninth, as he tried to complete the four-out save. Jesus Sanchez grounded out to second, and Lopez struck out on a foul tip. That was after Patrick Bailey had to call timeout and use mound visit to keep Doval from walking Lopez on a pitch clock violation.

Doval, who was pitching in just his fourth game this season, was once again struggling with the pitch clock, just as he did in his first outing of the season on March 30 in San Diego, and just as he did early last season.

Arraez lined a base-hit to right after a seven-pitch at-bat, in which Bailey had to use another mound visit to keep Doval from getting called for a pitch clock violation, but De La Cruz struck out swinging to end it, and the Giants held on to win this weird game 4-3.

Harrison got his second win of the season; George Soriano got the loss; and Doval got his second save. Doval is finally settling down after his third-straight rocky start to the season, but after Bailey had to use two of the Giants’ four mound visits to rescue Doval from pitch clock violations, and that is something Doval will have to work on.

The Giants improve to 7-10, and they will send Aaron Hicks to the mound tomorrow night, as they will try to get just their second two-game winning streak and second series win of the young season. First pitch will be at 6:40 p.m. in Miami, 3:40 p.m. back home in San Francisco.