Category: MLB

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: 2024 Opening Day – Last Hurrah for the A’s in Oakland?

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland Coliseum memories:

Amaury Pi-González interviewing Hank Aaron in 1976, at the Oakland Coliseum when Aaron was playing with the Milwaukee Brewers of the American League. He had already broken Babe Ruth’s Homerun record wearing the Atlanta Braves uniform in 1974. (photo from the author Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–Opening Night is tomorrow, Thursday, March 28, 2024, 7 PM at the Oakland-Alameda-County Coliseum. This could be the last Opening of a Season for the Athletics at Oakland, or maybe not.

Oakland city officials and the Oakland A’s have been meeting to discuss extending their lease at the Oakland Coliseum after this 2024 season for about three years before the team relocates to Sin City. But why worry? This is just like the weather; we cannot control it.

For A’s fans and some of us in the media, memories of the Oakland Coliseum go back for decades. I think many great moments no one could take away from my memory are engraved in what an old friend of mine used to call the Oakland Mausoleum.

This was the first team I broadcast in Spanish, and for one reason or another, I always find my way back to the A’s and the Coliseum, although I have also broadcast for the Giants, Angels, and Mariners throughout the years.

Although for years, since I could not do enough baseball games at Oakland, I broadcast two teams (home games) during the same years it was once the A’s and the Mariners, the Giants and the Mariners, and the A’s and the LA Angels radio and then Fox TV down in Anaheim.

However, the Bay Area has been my home, where I raised my family since I first arrived here in 1969 after serving in the US Army. This is my home, and the Oakland Coliseum is my park, for better or for worse.

Postseason playoffs included World Series, three of them 1989-90-91. I enjoyed broadcasting for the Green and Gold. Also, the 1987 MLB All-Star Game took place here at the Oakland-Alameda-County Coliseum, which I covered. Since 1977, when the owner of the A’s, Charlie O Finley, told me, “You can broadcast the games in Mexican”.

I think Mr. Finley thought that Mexican was a language, not a nationality; I remember telling him and Carl Finley that it is called Spanish (a politically correct language that did not exist back then).

The Coliseum has been my second home for many years. I have met and interviewed many great major league league players, from rookies who became Hall of Famers, like Rickey Henderson, to other players from visiting teams. There are many more memories, too many to list here.

For years, the Oakland Raiders shared the Coliseum with the A’s and the Warriors. The Warriors played next door at the Oakland Arena from 1971 to 2019. I was an employee of the Warriors as their only history Play-by-play announcer in Spanish, doing all games home and road in the 1990s.

Before inter-league became a reality in 1997, many of the greatest players in the American League played against the A’s at the Coliseum, including the great Henry(Hank) Aaron, among many others.

In 1997, I remember calling the first-ever regular-season inter-league game, which took place on June 12, 1977, at The Ballpark in Arlington, Texas, as the Rangers faced the San Francisco Giants.

I wish the A’s continued playing for a few more years here at the Oakland Coliseum until they depart for Las Vegas, but if this is their last year here, so be it. And like the great Bob Hope’s signature song says, “Thanks for the Memories.”

Quote: “Nobody ever said, “Work Ball”. They say, “Play Ball!” To me, that means having fun!” – Willie Stargell

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez for all the action on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants game wrap: Pablo gets hit in final at bat; SF loses in final pre season game to Oakland 3-1

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval ends his active baseball career with a broken bat flare to right against the Oakland A’s at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Tue Mar 26, 2024 (San Francisco Giants X account)

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Athletics. 001 101 000. 3. 6. 0

San Francisco. 000 000 001. 1. 8. 0

Time: 2:24

Attendance: 27,706

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–The Giants advertised this evening’s exhibition against the Utopian A’s as, perhaps, a last chance to see Pablo Sandoval play in a San Francisco uniform. Then they saluted him in their opening announcement.

The fans cheered the portly veteran, and they cheered JD Davis in his first at bat as an A in his old Oracle home. Sandoval got another ovation, a standing one, when he entered the game to play third in the top of the sixth. .But those of us who remember Brandon Crawflord’s long farewell say “maybe.” We shall see what we shall see.

Personally, I’d like to see the Panda suit up in an Oakland Ballers uni. And, by the way, I call the A’s “Utopian,” because the word is derived from the Greek for “nowhere.” Perhaps “peripatetic” would be a better choice. I’m open for suggestions; feel free to send them to me at lrubman@sportsradioservice.com.

Looking at the starting pitchers for the encounter between the San Franciscans and the team that once was their trans bay rivals, you’d want to run to Las Vegas and put your money on the A’s. Manager Mark Kotsay gave the nod to staff ace Paul Blackburn; Bob Melvin called Spencer Howard over from the minor league camp to open for the Giants. The result was a thrilling win for the visitors.

Blackburn went 5-2/3 innings, shutting San Francisco down on only a pair of singles without allowing anyone else to reach base. He struck. out six, and 48 of his 74 offerings were counted as strikes, while Howard was removed after Nick Allen’s hard line drive in the second bounced off him, forcing Matt Chapman to make a spectacular grab and throw for the inning’s second. out.

That cost the right handed hurler a contusion on his pitching arm. The young pitcher gave up one hit and struck 0ut two in his brief, 25 pitch outing. As could be expected in 21st century baseball, especially in spring training, there was a lot of relief pitching.

The A’s used four relief pitchers, Austin Adams, who closed out the sixth with a strikeout; Kyle Muller(one inning, one hit, one strikeout); Tyler Ferguson 9 (one inning, two hits, no runs); and Vinny Nittoli, who was on the bump. in the bottom or the ninth when Pablo lifted a 1-2 cut fastball over Abraham Toro’s head into right for a single, which was greeted by thunderous applause.

The Panda was lifted for a pinch runner Dalton Walton, who scored on Joey Bart’s single to center, closing the gap to 3-1. But Nitoli. buckled down to strike out Luciano and Slater, to earn the save.

The Giants’ list was composed of Cody Stashak, who retired the only batter he faced. Blayne Enlow, another minor league righty, came on to pitch the top of the third. He allowed a run on a walk to Carlos Pérez and Ryan Nola’s double down the right field line, and was the victim of some bad luck (although not as bad as Howard’s).

Lawrence Butler led off with a single to left and advanced to second on a one out weak infield grounder to Chapman, Butler came home on Esteury Ruíz’s shallow sac fly to right. Butler was just, but clearly, safe at home, and the A’s were up, 2-0.

Enlow gave way to Taylor Rogers after going 2-1/3 frames and yielding two runs, both earned but not fully deserved, on three hits and two walks, Taylor, the left handed, Rogers took over for him with the bases empty and one down in the fifth and got his two batters.

The next Giant on the mound, Camilo Duval, was greeted by Butler with a resounding triple to left. He scored on Nick Allen’s sacrifice fly to left, making it 3-0 in favor of the green and gold Duval hung on to give up another hit, a single, and get four more outs before making room for Tyler, the right handed submarining, Rogers. in the eighth. Nick Avila set the Athletics down to a conga beat, 1-2-3, in the top of the ninth.

Blackburn got the win; Enlow, the loss, and Nittoli, the save.

The Giants will embark on a brief tour of southernCalifornia to open the National League season, visiting San Diego andLos Angeles. The will begin on Thursday the 28th against the Padres, where they’ll send LogannWebb to the mound. He’s expected to be opposed by Yu Darvish. The orange and black will return home to face the Padres at Oracle Park on Saturday, April 6, at 1:05 in the afternoon.

Oakland A’s Recap: Paul Blackburn turns in dominant performance in victory for A’s over Giants 3-1

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo courtesy of Oakland A’s. Nick Allen stands ready at the plate (taken on 3/26/24).

By Titus Wilkinson (@TitusWisme)

SAN FRANCISCO- The Oakland Athletic’s closed out their Spring Training schedule on Tuesday night at Oracle Park against their cross-bay rival the San Francisco Giants.

The first game of this two-game series went the Giants way as they snagged a 4-1 victory with Tom Murphy homering twice for San Francisco.

On the bump for the A’s was 30 year old right-hander Paul Blackburn, who has been dominant so far in Spring Training, boasting a 3-0 record with a 2.04 era.

In tonights game that run of dominance would not stop for Blackburn who pitched 5.2 innings only giving up two hits and no earned runs. On top of that he struck out six which is extra impressive considering he faced a Giants lineup that looked similar to how it will look opening day.

The offense tonight for the A’s came in spurts with the first spurt coming in the third inning when J.D. Davis got Carlos Perez home on a ground out.

Oakland tacked on to that lead in the following inning when Estuery Ruiz hit a sacrifice fly to get Lawrence Butler home this time.

The last run in this game came for the A’s off the bat of Nick Allen who unsurprisingly also hit a sac fly to get Butler home once again.

Vinny Nittoli was called on to close out this game for the A’s and he did not make things easy on himself. It started with him giving up a single to Pablo Sandoval and then a double to Wilmer Flores. Joey Bart then knocked home a run but after that Nittoli was able to settle down and retire the next two batters to end the game.

Blackburn takes the win in this one improving his record to 4-0 while Blayne Enlow is credited with the loss.

The Oakland A’s will now turn their attention to the regular season when they’ll play the Guardians on opening day in Oakland at 7:07 p.m. At the moment the projected starter in that game for the Athletics is left-hander Alex Wood.

Tiger’s Treasure Trove: He Was A Giant? Randy Elliott

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Randy Elliott outfielder for the San Francisco Giants 1977 #16 (1977 Topps Baseball card)

Though treasured by critics and fans alike, the classic sitcom “Seinfeld” is known as a television show about “nothing.” Spring Training isn’t dissimilar. 

By Tony The Tiger Hayes

While Spring Training has become less and less practical for millionaire ballplayers – generational financial security makes year round training much easier – the sport’s preseason warmup period has become increasingly popular for sports and good-time seeking tourists over the past two decades

Spring Training has became the ultimate drug for geriatric thawing snowbirds and spry spring breakers seeking relaxation and fun in the sun.

But if you’re looking for competitive action – you’d be better off spying souvenir seekers jockeying for autographs alongside dugout railings in a preseason setting more accessible than the regular grind.

But don’t ever think of telling former big league outfielder Randy Lee Elliott that Spring Training is an exercise in unimportance.

The former Giant forever wrote his name in baseball history in 1977 when he produced arguably the greatest Cactus League campaign in the history of baseball.

This current spring, unsung Giants prospect Ismael Munguia opened eyes – winning the Giants Barney Nugent Award for best performance by a spring training newcomer with a scintillating Cactus League performance.

But somewhere along California’s central coast, Elliott was likely saying, ‘hold my beer’ in response.

In the spring of 1977 Elliott batted a jaw dropping .547 (29-for-53, with a whopping 18 extra base hits.

Within one month, Elliott went from a giant after thought to Giants Folk Hero.

Why Was He a Giant?

Though this California native played in 114 Major League regular season games over parts of four Major League seasons, Elliott would have fallen into the spittoon of big league obscurity if not for his dominating performance during San Francisco’s 1977 Cactus League campaign.

Though he had not played in a professional game since mid-1975, inactivity was hardly an issue for Randy who came to camp as a non-roster invitee.

Elliott quickly made himself comfortable at home plate –

rampaging through opposing pitching as if he were swinging an oversized cartoon bat.

As most of the country was still struggling with winter permafrost and new President Jimmy Carter, Elliott was all ready heated like a wood burning furnace on full blast stove on the first day exhibition season.

With the team in flux with a new manager Joe Altobelli and prime opportunities in the outfield, Elliott banged 13 hits in his first 18 at bats of the preseason.

By late March, Elliott was still scorching hot, as his average hovered at an ungodly number.

“It is quite obvious that Randy intends on making the club,” said Altobelli, after Elliott smoked a pair of hits including a 425-foot round tripper in a mid-spring contest March 27 vs. the Brewers and watched his average DROP 15 points to .653.

Making Elliott’s spring story even more remarkable was the fact he had missed the entire 1976 season with a shoulder separation. The debilitating injury, which occurred in mid-1975, and sidelined him throughout the 1976 season, leaving Elliott to wonder if his big league dreams had fizzled.

But the Giants- who had organizational issues on a par with outfielder’s injuries – took a flyer on Randy, inviting him to their Winter League Instructional League in late ‘76.

Elliott quickly shook off the rust and batted .331 in the Arizona based loop. Next came an invite to 1977 Spring Training.

San Francisco was hoping to stow away the Padres former top draft pick at Triple—A Phoenix. In emergency he would be a phone call away.

But Elliott had a different goal: securing a spot on the Giants Opening Day roster. Those were big plans for a guy who had essentially spent the previous summer jogging and lounging on Santa Barbara beaches.

“I figured this was my last year to make it to the big leagues. I knew if I didn’t have a heck of s spring training I’d be back at Triple-A ball,” Elliott told the Giants beat scribes. “I’m 25 now and have been in the minors for quite a long time now. The clubs start to lose interest after awhile.”

Before & After

On his 18th birthday in June of 1969, Elliott – a top prospect out of Camarillo High School – was selected by San Diego in the first round (24th overall) of the 1969 amateur draft. He waisted little time showing his ability, batting .302, 4, 50 that summer in the the expansion club’s rookie league team at Salt Lake City and then followed up with two solid seasons in 1970-71 at Single-A Lodi in the California League.

After a breakout campaign at Double-A Alexandria of the Texas League in 1972 (.335, 19, 85) the Padres appeared to have found their first home grown star in Randy and promoted to him to the big leagues in September of ‘72.

Elliott smacked his first two big league hits against future Hall of Famer Phil Niekro in a 4-1 loss at Atlanta (9/10/72). Later in the season Elliott rocketed a go-ahead RBI pinch hit triple off the Dodgers Claude Osteen in a 5-3 Friers win at Los Angeles (9/25/72)

But despite showing flashes, the 21-year-old appeared over matched in his big league audition, mustering just a .204 average (10-for-49, with 11 strikeouts).

Still the future looked extremely bright for Elliott heading into the 1973 season. Besides break out slugger Nate Colbert, San Diego had no established starting outfielders,. With a strong spring Elliott was capable of winning a starting gig with the woeful Padres.

But instead of a breakout campaign, ‘73 marked Elliott’s first extended stay on the disabled list. Shoulder and rib injuries limited Elliott to just a handful of minor league games that season making it overall a lost opportunity to propel his fledgling career.

After knocking off some initial rust, an able-bodied Elliott rebounded mightily in 1974 at Triple-A Hawaii. The burly Californian’s bat must have resembled a long board to opposing pitchers as he batted a mighty .321, 11, 69 in the Tropical setting.

Again, the Pads came calling after his luau style feast on PCL pitching and invited him to wear Brown & Mustard Yellow in September. Elliott crushed his first MLB long ball that month, ripping a solo poke of Reds ace Don Gullett in a 5-2 road loss (9/10/74); he also achieved his first three hit game as a big leaguer – batting 3-for-4 with a double and RBI in a 3-2 home win against San Francisco (9/25/74).

Elliott found himself back in paradise- Honolulu- in 1975, but not in the major leagues. His PCL numbers were solid, but he also spent more time on sidelines with injuries – he’s achilles heel turned out to be his left shoulder. The debilitating separation injury would linger for the rest of his career.

Meanwhile San Diego, wary of Elliott stalled progress moved up three top prospects- Dave Winfield, Johnny Grubb and future Giant Mike Ivie ahead of him on the depth chart.

Elliott’s days as a Frier were cooked.

The California Angels took a flyer on Elliott in 1976, but the shoulder situation kept him sidelined for the entire campaign.

The Giants- who’s outfielder situation was murky – had many players rated higher on their depth chart

Veterans Bobby Murcer and Gary Matthews had decamped via trade and free agency respectively, but the Giants outfield situation was still chock-a-block with contenders for at-bats. There were veteran holdovers Gary Thomasson and Darrell Evans as well youngsters Jack Clark, Larry Herndon and Terry Whitfield. Former Dodgers stalwart Willie Crawford was also in camp.

Elliott, shockingly, outperformed them all that spring- and it wasn’t even close.

With a week to go in spring camp, Altobelli, announced that not only had Elliott made the parent club, he was strongly being considered to start in left field on opening day in Los Angeles.

Elliott vowed to make Altobelli a proud rookie skipper. “The conditions this spring were just right, I don’t know if another manager would have given me such a complete look as Joe,” he said.

He Never Had a Giants Bobblehead Day. But…

As it turned out, Elliott did not receive the Giants Opening Day left field starter assignment in Los Angeles- Thomasson received the nod a promptly clubbed a home run to lead off the game and season vs. Don Sutton.

But Elliott was in the lineup the following game vs. Dodgers lefty Doug Rau. In his first at bat however, Elliott was hit by a pitch by Rau … on his problem shoulder. On his next at bat Elliott felt his shoulder popped loose.

He was back at square one. Not wanting to go back on the disabled list Elliott soldiered on.

The starting assignments dwindled as did his batting average. Elliott managed to stick with the parent Giants for most the 1977 season and became an adapt pinch hitter slugging three pinch home runs that season including a grand slam off the Reds Fred Norman.

In 73 games with San Francisco, Elliott batted .240, 7, 26 – all career highs.

Elliott did not play organized ball in 1978-79, but he returned to the professional ranks in 1980 and even played in a handful of games with the Oakland A’s before retiring from the sport.

Years later, Elliott was philosophical about his time in baseball and the that spring training with the Giants.

“(I played so well) because shoulder stayed in the whole time,” he told the Chronicle. “When my shoulder was healthy, I could play.”

San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman: A’s and Giants close out spring training tonight; Pablo’s last hurrah at Oracle Park leaves lots of memories

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants utility man Pablo Sandoval trying on the catchers glove during spring training. Sandoval is making what is expected his last appearance as an active player at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Tue Mar 26, 2024 in an exhibition game between the Giants and Oakland A’s (photo from the San Francisco Giants X account)

On the SF Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman:

#1 Stephen kind of a big night for the Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval who tried as hard he could will most likely be bidding farewell tonight to the Oracle Park crowd.

#2 It’s the Giants final spring game closing it out with the Oakland A’s which is a back drop to Sandoval saying good bye and lots of memories a few World Series rings.

#3 Stephen the Giants are pretty solid looking around the diamond and who they have position by position.

#4 Some of the Giants acquisitions that made big news in the off and pre season with Blake Snell, Jordan Hicks, Matt Chapman, and Jung Hoo Lee.

#5 Didn’t get a chance to talk to you ab out the Giants not renewing PA announcer Renel Brooks Moon’s contract. The Giants say they’re going to rotate PA announcers and decide on a permanent PA announcer during the season.

Stephen Ruderman is a MLB beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Ohtani says interpreter stole money to pay off gambling debts; Interpreter never graduated or worked at Sox or Yanks; plus more news

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Will Ireton Los Angeles Dodgers manager of performance operations (left) interprets for Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (right) at a pre game press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Mon Mar 25, 2024 (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 A look into Los Angeles Dodger’s designated hitter Shohei Ohtani’s personal trainer Ippei Mizuhara stole the money from Ohtani to pay off his gambling debts. It was learned that Ohtani did not pay for Mizuhara’s gambling debt Ohtani said the $4.5 million to pay the debt was stolen by Mizuhara. Ohtani made it clear he did not know about Mizurhara using the stolen money to pay an illegal bookie.

#2 Mizuhara’s background was found to be suspicious as well it was discovered he never attended UC Riverside and never graduated there in 2007, Mizuhara never was an interpreter for the Boston Red Sox pitcher Hideki Okajima from 2007-2011. The Red Sox released a statement saying that Mizuhara never worked for the Red Sox. It was also reported that Mizuhara was an interpreter for the New York Yankees in 2022 but the Yankees said that Mizuhara never was an interpreter for them in 2022.

#3 Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that it was good that Ohtani addressed the media before Monday night’s game at Dodger Stadium. It gave Ohtani a forum to clear the air and address some of the questions about his knowledge that money was going to an illegal bookie to pay Mizuhara’s debts.

#4 Although no one will admit it in the Dodgers clubhouse that this whole thing is a distraction but has to be the largest paid athlete of all time tied to a gambling scandal and it’s turned into a federal investigation and questions where is this going to end up?

#5 Turning to the Oakland A’s the A’s have announced that they have cut the time in half on Thursday opening night and will open the gates at the Oakland Coliseum parking lot from four hours to two hours early. The A’s have said they did that because there was no sense opening up the lot when they are expecting a low paid attendance to show up. Two large A’s fan groups the Oakland 68s and the Last Dive Bar said that cutting the parking lot times from two to four hours will cut their boycott time down to just two hours and they also planned to have tailgates before the game now that time has been cut in half. The 68’s said the A’s are playing mind games.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play announcer for 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

San Francisco Giants game wrap: Luciano double and Slater homers in 4-1 win

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The San Francisco Giants did the bulk of their scoring in the top of the fourth and fifth innings against the Oakland A’s at the Oakland Coliseum in pre season play on Mon May 25, 2024 (San Francisco Giants X photo)

Monday, May 25, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

San Francisco. 010 120 000. 4. 6. 0

Athletics. 000 001 000. 1. 4. 1

Attendance: 7,580

OAKLAND–The rootless Athletics came back to Oakland to wind up their spring training with an uneventful 4-1 losss ti the San Francisco Giants in the first of a two game crash pad-home series at the Coliseum this evening.

The green and gold entered the fray with a 13-13 Cactus League record and an interesting assortment of veterans, including JD Davis, Abraham Toro, 29 year old 4A slugger Miguel Andújar, and an improved Paul Blackburn; inexperienced but clearly of major league calibre like Zach Gelof, with his 2023 Baseball Reference WAR of 2.6 and Esteury Ruíz, who stole 68 bases, whether the game situation called for it or not, to go along with his .248 batting average; and youngsters who are on the verge of establishing their bona fides, like Seth Langeliers, who hit only .205 (with an OPS of .683), but whose 2024 spring training numbers going into today were .372, 9.75) and Brent Rookie, who made the 2023 all-star team and then went into free fall until September, finishing the year with a mediocre batting average of .248 but an exciting OPS of .817).

And then there’s non-roster invitee Ho Jun Park, who’s seen considerable Cactus League action and was hitting over 500 when the team broke camp.

Before the gates opened, the A’s announced that they had bought right-handed pitcher Austin Adams’ contract from the Mets. Adams was added to the 40-man roster, and his fellow right handed pitcher Trevor Gott was placed on the 60-day injured list.

Matt Chapman, returning to the Coliseum in a Giants uniform, received a nice round of applause on his first plate appearance from the 7,580 fans who bothered to show up.

In on field action, San Francisco jumped to an early lead on a leadoff 375.foot line drive home run to left by Tom Murphy off a 93.2 four seamer. He duplicated that feat with another round tripper over the left field auxiliary, a 405 foot blast scoreboard that left the Giant catcher’s bat at 106.2 mph.

This one came off an 84.6 mph changeup. One out later, right handed Michael Kelly replaced the southpaw Sears, who hadn’t allowed any hits except for Murphy’s two dingers, in 3-2/3 innings, during which he threw 70 pitches, 39 for strikes. He walked four and struck out three, and was the losing pitcher, leaving him at 2-2, 2.70 for the spring.

The Giants increased their lead in the top of the fifth on a lead off double by Marco Luciano that got past a diving Lawrence Butler in right, followed by Jung -Hoo Lee’s productive ground out to second, Austin Slater’s sac fly to right and a homer to left by Wilmer Flores. By now, it was 4-0, Giants.

Zack Jackson hurled a scoreless top of the sixth before giving way to Dany Jiménez, who retired the side in order in the seventh. Lucas Erceg rode the bullpen merry-go-round in the eighth, the inning that produced the loudest response from the select gathering in the stands, cheers for a single to left by Pablo Sandoval, who had entered the game in the bottom of the seventh to play third base. Mason Miller put the visitors down in order in the ninth.

Lefty Juan Sánchez relieved Hicks, who left after holding the A’s to one base runner, Gelof, who walked in the opening frame, over five innings, in which he threw 72 pitches, 45 of which counted as strikes, and striking out 10 batters he was credited.

Another southpaw, minor leaguer Erik Miller relieved Sánchez with two on and one down in the bottom of the sixth, and he surrendered an RBI single to Toro, who had replaced Gelof as the A’s second sacker. Ryan Walker kept the A’s off the board ij the seventh, and RJ Dabvoich, a minor leaguer, unleashed two wild pitches and yielded an equal number of bases on balls but escaped unscored upon thanks to a crisp inning ending 6-4-3 double play on Rooker’s sharp grounder. Another minor league righty, Justin Garza earned the save by setting the Athletics down in order.

Both teams will wrap up their preseason activity tomorrow, Tuesday afternoon, with a 5:05 game at Oracle Park. The A’s will send Paul Blackburn to the mound; the Giants haven’t announced who will start for them.

Oakland A’s game wrap: Oakland A’s Lose To The San Francisco Giants 4-1, JP Sears Gives Up 2 Homers To Tom Murphy

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Lawrence Butler (2) of the Oakland A’s stands in at the plate against the San Francisco Giants at the Oakland Coliseum on Mon Mar 25, 2024 (Oakland A’s X photo)

Monday, March 25th, 2024

By Troy Ewers

The Oakland A’s host their cross the bridge rivals the San Francisco Giants in a Spring Training game at the Oakland Coliseum. 

The game was off to a hot start for the Giants as Tom Murphy hit a second inning lead off home run off A’s starting pitcher JP Sears making it 1-0. Sears in the third inning started off by walking Jung Hoo Lee, but got out of that jam and kept it at 1-0, but in the fourth inning Murphy banged another homer off Sears and that led to a pitching change for the A’s as they went into the bottom of the fourth down 2-0. 

Michael Kelly was the new pitcher for Oakland and he started his first full inning in the fifth giving up a leadoff double to Marco Luciano. Luciano would move to third on a Lee groundout, then would score off an Austin Slater sac fly, 3-0 Giants.

Wilmer Flores would then follow up Slater with a solo homerun, 4-0 Giants and again when the A’s would get to the plate, would have no hits as Jordan Hicks ended his outing with just a walk against him. 

Giants pitcher Juan Sanchez gave up the A’s first hit in the sixth inning to Lawrence Butler and he would then score from an Abraham Toro single with the new SF pitcher Erik Miller, 4-1. The A’s looked like they had a chance to deliver a real comeback with the bases loaded, but a ground out from Esteury Ruiz and Miller escaped the jam. 

In the 8th inning Oakland had Lucas Erceg start the inning on the hill and he faced off against Giants hero Pablo Sandoval and gave up a single. It looked like Sandoval would get a run when he would make it all the way to third after a single and a walk, but a ground out ended the inning for Oakland.

The 8th inning looked like the A’s would have a chance from Ryan Noda who made it to third off two wild pitches and it looked like they’d close the gap, but a double play would get San Francisco out the 8th and closer to a win. 

Mason Miller would stop the Giants from any insurance runs by striking out the side, but the A’s would go three up and three down at the plate and lose to the Giants 4-1. 

Before the A’s go into their opening series against the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday, they face the Giants one more time for Spring Training, tomorrow in Oracle Park in San Francisco. Still no announcement on who will be pitching.

Giants spanked by Triple-A affiliate River Cats 8-1 in Exhibition Game in Sacramento

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval take a few cuts at their game against the Sacramento River Cats at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento on Sun Mar 24, 2024 (San Francisco Giants X photo)

Sunday, March 24, 2024

Sutter Health Park, West Sacramento, California

Sacramento River Cats 8

San Francisco Giants 1

Win: Darren McCaugham (5-4)

Loss: Miguel Yajure (0-2)

Time: 2:40

Attendance: 14,014* (No official attendance was given for tonight’s game, but since the game was sold out, and the seating capacity of Sutter Health Park is 14,014, it can be assumed that it was the attendance tonight.)

By Stephen Ruderman

SACRAMENTO–The Giants came to Sacramento for the third Giants vs. River Cats exhibition game, and were smoked by their Triple-A affiliate, 8-1.

The Giants broke camp on Saturday after an 11-5 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks at Scottsdale Stadium, the Giants’ spring training ballpark. They flew home to San Francisco after the game, got some rest and then took the bus to Sacramento, where they would be the home team, to play their Triple-A affiliate, the Sacramento River Cats.

This was the third time the two teams matched up for an exhibition game at Sutter Health Park. The first contest came on March 30, 2016, when the Giants as the home team beat the River Cats 8-4. The Giants returned to Sacramento on March 24, 2018, this time as the road team, and lost a tight one by a final of 6-5.

There was a lot of excitement in the air at Sutter Health Park. This stemmed from Giants fans in Sacramento getting to see their team play in their hometown for the first six years, as well as the fact that the team had a strong off-season, and greatly improved the team. Fans in Northern California were also going to get to see Jung-hoo Lee up close and in person for the first time, which generated plenty of excitement.

Dusty Baker, a Sacramento kid, who had retired from managing at the end of the 2023 season, and who has returned to the Giants as a Special Advisor to Baseball Operations, was on hand to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Baker received a standing ovation from the soldout crowd at Sutter Health Park as he walked out to the mound to throw the pitch.

The teams were interestingly divided, as most of the minor leaguers played for the River Cats, but a few suited up for the Giants. One of the minor leaguers who put on a Giants uniform tonight was Carson Seymour, who was the starting pitcher for San Francisco tonight. On the mound for Sacramento was Mason Black, who is much more likely to see time with the Giants than Seymour.

Wade Meckler led off the game for Sacramento, and lined a double down the right-field line. Heliot Ramos got an infield hit that moved Meckler to third-base, and David Villar singled to right to knock in Meckler. Trenton Brooks walked to load the bases, and that brought up Casey Schmitt, who hit a ground ball to the Giants’ shortstop, Nick Ahmed, who was able to help turn a 6-4-3 double play for the first two outs. That scored Ramos, but since it was a double play, Schmitt did not get an RBI.

Black survived a pair of walks in the bottom of the first inning, and Seymour settled down to throw a 1-2-3 innings in top of the second, as well as the top of the third.

The Giants did not get their first hit off Black until Lee legged out an infield single to start the bottom of the third. Lee advanced to second on a wild pitch, and got to third on a ground out by Austin Slater, but was caught in a rundown for the second out of the inning on a ground ball off the bat of LaMonte Wade Jr.

For Black, he ended up pitching three and two thirds shutout innings. He gave up two hits, but walked five guys.

Juan Sanchez, who has pitched nicely in camp for the Giants this spring, came in to relieve Seymour in the top of the fourth. Sanchez walked two, but struckout two in a scoreless inning of work.

The 6’8” right-hander Carson Ragsdale came in for the Giants in the top of the fifth, and the River Cats rocked him for three runs to extend their lead to 5-0. Ragsdale went two and two thirds, and Nick Garcia got the final out of the top of the seventh.

Eric Silva pitched a 1-2-3 top of the eighth for the Giants, and Pablo Sandoval pinch-hit for Austin Slater, and laced a base-hit to right off the left-hander John Bertrand to start the bottom of the eighth. Sandoval would be out at second after Blake Sabol reached on a 4-6 fielder’s choice, but Tyler Fitzgerald singled in Sabol with two outs to finally put the Giants on the board.

The River Cats tacked on three more runs in the top off the ninth off Spencer Bivens to blow it open, and Nick Avila pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth for Sacramento to close it out, as the River Cats won it 8-1.

The River Cats now lead the all-time exhibition series two games to one against the Giants, and with the excitement and success of tonight’s game for both organizations and the city of Sacramento, it would be easy to assume that fans will not have to wait too long before the two teams square off at Sutter Health Park again.

Since this game was against a minor league game, it does not count towards the Giants’ overall spring training record. The Giants will close out their spring training schedule with two games against their crossbay rival A’s. The first will be at 6:40 p.m. on Monday at the Oakland Coliseum, followed by the Giants’ spring training finale when they host the A’s Tuesday night at Oracle Park.

Other Notes:

Logan Webb, who was born and raised in the Sacramento suburb of Rocklin was back in town, but with Webb set to make his third-straight opening day start when the Giants open the Regular Season in San Diego on Thursday, he did not pitch tonight.

“[I] came down this morning to see my family, [and] say hi to everybody,” said Webb. “I couldn’t miss out on coming back here…..I know how much pride this area has in their sports teams; the Giants’ ties run deep [here].”

“It’s always special coming here,” Webb continued. “Honestly, I wish there was a [major league] baseball team here…..I think [Sacramento] can have one…..You see how much Kings fans show up, [and] how much River Cats show up. I love it here.”

Webb expressed his excitement for being back in Sacramento, as well as being able to convert two of his teammates into Kings fans.

“Alex Cobb is a Kings fan now,” Webb said. “Ryan Walker, I think, is following [them] a little more. [The Kings have] been fun to watch, and hopefully, they keep going.”

Webb has struggled this spring, but is trying to put it behind him.

“Obviously, as a competitor, you don’t want to go out there and hear all the cliches, ‘it’s just spring training,’” said Webb. “Everything feels good; it’s just [not] the results I’ve been looking for.”

Pablo Sandoval who has been back in camp hoping for a third stint with the Giants has hit .178 this spring, and Tuesday’s spring training finale as the A’s is rumored to be a final farewell for Sandoval, who despite the odds being stacked against him, has been humble, and has made his excitement and gratitude to get one last chance with the Giants clear.

Sandoval has made an impact in camp, as he has been the connection to the Giants’ world championships in 2010, 2012 and 2014, and he has had an effect on the young players, who are set to be the team’s future.

According to Manager Bob Melvin, Sandoval has gotten the biggest ovations of any player. Melvin also said that he has specifically sent in Sandoval as a pinch-runner in games this spring to get more of the ovations.

Melvin also discussed the final cuts the Giants are set to make as they prepare to set their 26-man roster for Opening Day. Melvin told the team at the start of camp that even the players who were going to get cut were going to be needed at some point during the Regular Season.

“[With] the way our roster’s constructed, it’s gonna take an army to win,” said Melvin.” “These guys have to know that there’s a good chance they’re gonna be part of this.”

Headline Sports with Charlie O: Can Ohtani interpreter stay in Japan avoid extradition?; Ex-O’s owner Angelos dead at 94 great accomplishments; plus more news

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Former Los Angeles Dodgers interpreter Ippei Mizuhara (left) and Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani no longer will be working together after Mizuhara was fired by the Dodgers for allegedly massive theft of Ohtani’s money for gambling (photo from ESPN)

On Headline Sports with Charlie O:

#1 Charlie, how bad of a look is it for baseball to have Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter allegedly stealing some $4.5 million from Ohtani to use it to gamble with an illegal bookmaker with Ohtani’s name on it. The big question is from the face of the story and everything we know does it look like or appear that Ohtani could have had a hand in this scandal based on the money transfers being in Ohtani’s name? Ippei Mizuhara the interpreter reportedly has said that Ohtani didn’t have anything to do with gambling which is being investigated by the US Attorney’s office.

#2 Baltimore Orioles former owner Peter Angelos has passed away at age 94. He oversaw an Orioles organization that had it’s highs and lows but the one thing everyone will remember him by his when got the plans together in the early 90s to build Camden Yards which opened in 1992. It was the ballpark that started other major league franchises to want a new ballpark for themselves. Angelos commandeered the idea of having the Orioles play a exhibition series against the Cuban National team in Havana Cuba on March 28, 1999. It was the first time that any team from the US played in Cuba since 1959. Later that season the the same two teams met again on May 3 at Camden Yards.

#3 The Philadelphia Phillies Bryce Harper who hasn’t played in a exhibition game since Mar 14th was in the line up against the New York Yankees yesterday. Harper had been out with sore back. Harper played in a simulated game on Friday and got in the line up on Saturday. Harper had back spasms last season.

#4 The San Francisco Giants announced that they will begin looking for a new PA announcer to replace the popular Renel Brooks Moon who had been the Giants PA announcer for 24 seasons. The Giants plan to rotate PA announcers during the season until they settle on someone they will hire. The Giants said they couldn’t reach a deal with Renel and sources say she wasn’t rehired because she was outspoken on social injustice issues.

#5 The Oakland 68s and the Last Dive Bar two Oakland A’s fan groups have voice their displeasure regarding the Oakland A’s cutting the usual opening night parking lot time from four hours down to two hours. The A’s say that the expect a low attendance for Thu Mar 28th and that opening the lot for four hours before the game would not be necessary. The 68s and the Last Dive Bar call the A’s decision “mind games” and a deliberate way to cut into their parking lot boycott that they planned.

Join Charlie O for Headline Sports each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com