Category: MLB

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s open three game match with Rangers at Globe Life tonight

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Oakland A’s pitcher Paul Blackburn will start for the A’s Fri Sep 8, 2023 at Globe Life Stadium in Arlington against the Texas Rangers for the first of a three game series (AP file photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1  The Oakland A’s beat the Toronto Blue Jays Wednesday afternoon 5-2 to avoid being swept by the Jays. The A’s starter, JP Sears, earned his fourth win of the year. 

#2 It took work to defeat a very good Blue Jay team. The Jays are in contention to make the playoffs in the American League.

#3 Their starter, lefty Hyan Jin Ryu, baffled the A’s for the game’s first four innings. Ryu used various low curves, changeups, cutters, and four-seam fastballs to keep the A’s offense off balance.

#4 Also a lefty, Sears held the powerful Blue Jay lineup to four hits and one run in five innings. Sears made it through the Jays’ lineup three times and allowed only one run.

#5 The A’s open a three game series on Friday night in Arlington against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Stadium. The A’s will start Paul Blackburn (4-4 ERA 3.81) the Rangers have not announced a starter.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Memories of Oakland  No.11 in Series-Nobody is more Oakland than Dave Stewart

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Former Oakland A’s pitcher Dave Stewart who is a member of the Oakland A’s Hall of Fame and has his #34 jersey retired with the A’s (File photo by the Tennessean)

Memories of Oakland  No.11 in Series

Nobody is more Oakland than Dave Stewart

By Amaury Pi-González

No other player in Oakland A’s history represents Oakland more than Dave Stewart. Born in the City of Oakland and the only Oakland A’s pitcher to have won 20  or more games in four seasons in a row, his grit and determination are legendary. While Tim Hudson, Barry Zito, and Mark Mulder are also 20-game-winners while pitching in Oakland, Stewart is in a class by himself.

He always had a smile and was gracious when we spoke, especially with one of his most memorable anecdotes; when he was a young man and lived not very far from the Oakland Coliseum he would sneak into A’s games and Reggie Jackson would catch him in the process and bring  him to the park.

Soon after, Stewart started washing Reggie’s car in exchange for tickets. If anybody is really Rooted in Oakland, that would be Dave Stewart. That is the best definition of “Rooted” the other stuff is only marketing, but Stewart is the real thing.

Those of us who covered the 1989 World Series remember well, the Cypress Freeway in Oakland, on October 17 when the strong Loma Prieta Earthquake struck the bay area. Stewart was there working shoulder-to-shoulder with first responders, rescuing people that were trapped.

There, 42 people were killed when the double-decked Cypress Freeway (which I had driven hours before on the way from the east bay to Candlestick Park), totally collapsed. Dave Stewart is a World Series Champion and World Series Most Valuable Player, but he is also a role model for the youth in Oakland.

Dave Stewart is involved as an owner of an expansion team in Nashville, Tennessee. His vision could become reality as Nashville is one of the top cities considered for MLB expansion along with Charlotte, Montreal, Portland and Salt Lake City.

“Mental attitude and concentration are the keys to pitching”  – Ferguson Jenkins.

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

San Francisco Giants day off report: Struggles Continue, SF looks to end six game skid Friday against Rockies

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San Francisco Giants’ Luis Matos celebrates with teammates in the dugout after scoring on a double hit by Casey Schmitt during the seventh inning at Wrigley Field on Wed Sep 6, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

It was not so long ago that the San Francisco Giants seemed to have a clear shot at a post season spot. Everything offensively and defensively was working but lately there has been a major shift and not for the better.

Going all the way back to mid-August the Giants can see the decline. They dropped two series to the Braves, then it was the Phillies and then they won a series against the Reds. When it looked like things might be turning around, it didn’t.

The team went on the road starting with a four game series with the Padres. San Francisco did win the first game of that series but was manhandled in the next three games. Next the Cubs swept them and the Giants were looking at a six game losing streak. The team now heads home and the way things are going right now, home is looking pretty darn good.

A closer look reveals a lack of offensive production, as well as problems on the mound. The inability to hold onto leads has been obvious and come from behind wins, well for right now, just are not happening.

This team continuously finds a way to lose. Right now they are 70-70 and in danger of falling below .500. If the season ended today, there would be no wild card for the Giants this season. Thankfully the season has a bit more to go but it is waning with only 22 games and San Francisco cannot continue on the course that they are on right now.

So who is to blame? Right now there is plenty of blame to go around. Many players are struggling and they do have some promising rookies but they need time to mature. So who wants to be accountable for this decline.

So far the answer is no one. It’s hard to believe that the team’s batting average is .214 since the break. There is someone falling short in this conversation whether it is the players, the coaching or the front office. Someone is responsible for the downfall of this team.

They are in a free fall right now and how long will fans continue to support this uninspiring, and at times ugly baseball. It wasn’t that long ago that the Giants won 107 games in a season, that being 2021.

We have heard they’re still “in the hunt” ad nauseum. Offensively, this team needs to wake up the bats. They are not in a slump anymore, this is a trend and it could very well spell missing the playoffs this season.

Right now they are below average offensively with a high strikeout rate, the fourth worst in baseball. They have hit 136 homeruns this year which is 20th in baseball. The only bright spot is Wilmer Flores who is the exception on this team right now.

Leaving runners stranded has become commonplace. San Francisco is in a tough place right now and righting this ship has happen sooner rather than later because they are running out of later.

The Giants will begin a three game series with the Colorado Rockies Friday night. Colorado is a team that has struggled this season and San Francisco under most circumstances would be a favorite to win the series. The Giants will send Kyle Harrison to the mound with a 1-1 win/loss record and a 4.70 ERA. Ty Blach (2-1 ERA 4.33) will get the nod for Colorado with first pitch at 7:15PM.

Oakland A’s Preview: A’s open three-game series with Texas Rangers in Arlington Friday

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Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Santiago Espinal, left, tags out Oakland Athletics’ Brent Rooker (25) during the fourth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Thu Sep 6, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s are in Arlington, Texas, to start a six-game road trip Friday night against the Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros. The Rangers have been playing poorly lately. The Astros just swept a three-game series from the Rangers, and their record in the last 19 games is four wins and 15 losses.

The Rangers played well in the first half of the season with a mark of 52-39. In the second half, the Rangers are 24-24. The Rangers, Astros, and Mariners are in a three-way race for the AL West division title. The Astros lead the Mariners by a games and have a three-game advantage over the Rangers.

The Tampa Bay Rays and Seattle Mariners own the first and second playoff spots in the Wild Card race. The Toronto Blue Jays and the Rangers will fight for the third slot. The Blue Jays have a 1/2 game lead over Texas as of Sept. 7. The Rangers play the Blue Jays in Toronto next week.

The A’s would love to spoil the Rangers’ efforts to make the playoffs. The A’s are playing well. They finished the last homestand with a record of 4-2. They are 9-7 in their last 16 games. The A’s young players have helped the team improve.

Zack Gelof, Esteury Ruiz, Lawrence Butler, Ryan Noda, Brent Rooker, Shea Langeliers, and Nick Allen appear to be the team’s nucleus shortly. Former A’s pitcher Chris Bassitt, now with Toronto, remarked that most of his former A’s teammates are no longer with the club. The only players from his time with the A’s were Tony Kemp and Seth Brown.

The Rangers traded for Max Scherzer and Jordan Montgomery to bolster the starting rotation. The Astros sent Scherzer to an early shower yesterday. Nathan Eovaldi was shelled in his last start. He lasted just one and 1.3 of an inning. The bullpen needs to be up to the task. The Rangers traded for Aroldis Chapman to be their closer. The lefty from Cuba still has a fastball that travels over 100 MPH. Yet, he has not been successful lately.

The Rangers still have players that can cause damage to opposing pitchers. The A’s pitchers will have their hands full, containing the bats of players like catcher Jonah Heim, first baseman Nate Lowe, second baseman Marcus Semien, and shortstop Corey Seager.

Third baseman Josh Jung is out with an injury until Sept. 22. Jung was a contender for AL Rookie of the Year until the injury sidelined him. Outfielders Robbie Grossman and Leody Taveras are capable players and can be productive.

Adolis Garcia has caused the A’s problems in the past, but he is scuffling now. García notched his second All-Star appearance this year after a strong first half but has struggled with a .197/.293/. He has a 462 slash line since Aug. 1.

The Texas offense has coincidentally paralleled his struggles. Though García leads the AL in RBIs, he has struggled to come up with the big hit down the stretch. If the Rangers want to remain in the postseason picture, they will likely need García to be productive.

Friday night’s game will see the A’s Paul Balckburn (4-4 ERA 3.81) pitch for Oakland. The Rangers will send lefty Jordan Montgomery (8-10 ERA 3.46) to the hill to handle their pitching chores. The game will start at 6:05 pm

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Teachers Union Disagree with Schools Over Stadiums

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Clark County Education Association Executive Director John Vellardita is not part of Schools over Stadium and has been at odds with the NSEA since 2018 (file photo Nevada Independent)

Teachers Union Disagree with Schools Over Stadiums

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

There are more curves to this story, than the world’s famous Lombard Street in San Francisco. After a teacher’s union formed Schools Over Stadiums, in opposition to the Athletics building a park in Nevada, there is another teacher’s union in Las Vegas, Nevada who doesn’t support the Schools Over Stadium petition. I believe “not all teachers are created equal”.

This June, the Nevada State Education Association formed a political action committee called Schools Over Stadiums.Today they officially announced they have filed a referendum petition to repeal the funding of $380 million approved for the new A’s ballpark in Las Vegas. They claim that during that 82nd Legislative Session, Nevada legislators “failed to hear a single bill to reduce Nevada’s overcrowded classrooms.”

That same month in June, Nevada’s Governor Lombardo signed State Bill 1. Under this bill, $380 million in public funds for the ballpark were set aside. Steve Hill (an important player in Las Vegas) is the CEO and President of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. According to Hill, room taxes from hotels in Las Vegas generated in the new Sports and Innovation District would help cover some of those costs.

It’s the same structure they put together to pay for Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders. The MLB owners must approve the team moving to Las Vegas; a vote is expected in December. The demolition of the Tropicana, where the A’s have planned to build their new ballpark, is scheduled right after the owners vote.

The Nevada Secretary of State website, on the Schools Over Stadiums, specifies they would need hundreds of thousands of valid signatures from registered Nevada voters before it goes onto the ballot. For example, during the 2022 General Election, petitioners required at least 10% of the voters who voted during the previous General Election. In 2022, 10% meant 140,777 valid signatures. They will need to be collected and submitted by July 8, 2024. As of today, they haven’t started the collection of signatures yet, according to Schools Over Stadiums officials.

Not all Nevada Teachers Unions are reading from the same playbook. The Clark County Education Association (CCEA), which is not affiliated with NSEA and is the official bargaining unit for 18,000 licensed educators, including teachers in the Clark County School District (Las Vegas, the most populous city in the State), is not backing the “Schools Over Stadiums” petition.

CCEA and the statewide union have been at odds since 2018, when the former broke with NSEA.  “We’re not involved, and we wouldn’t follow the lead of an irrelevant organization,” Clark County Education Association Executive Director John Vellardita said in June, adding that Democrats passed the bill, a Republican governor signed it, and the stadium seems settled.

The Oakland A’s also signed a labor agreement with the Nevada Building Trades covering the stadium and has an agreement with the ballpark’s employees. This is the largest labor union in Nevada, the hospitality labor force associated with the AFL-CIO.

The Oakland A’s announced their schedule for the 2024 season, all home games will be played at the Oakland Coliseum.

 Note: In 2005 MLB moved the Montreal Expos to the American capital and renamed them the Washington Nationals. Montreal is the only city that has lost a significant league franchise since 1901 without eventually getting another team.

If the Oakland A’s move to Las Vegas, will Oakland get an expansion team? Nobody could answer that today, but other cities are “in line” to get an MLB expansion team. This June five of San José’s Mayors sent Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred a letter, asking MLB to permanently suspend territorial rights and create and avenue for the city to get an expansion team. San Jose, the Bay Area’s largest city wants a Major League team and if would merit great consideration, if the A’s leave for Las Vegas.

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

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Petitions to hit Nevada districts to stop public funding of A’s Vegas ballpark

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Schools over Stadiums filed for a petition to get enough signatures on the ballot in four districts in Nevada to stop use of public funds for the A’s Tropicana ballpark in Las Vegas. (image from the Schools over Stadiums twitter account)

On the A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 Jerry, Dawn Etcheverry, a music teacher and President of NSEA and Schools Over Stadiums in Nevada is moving on a petition referendum to stop the use of public funding tax dollars that would be used to build a ballpark at the Tropicana hotel and casino that was approved by the Nevada State Legislation in June in a special session.

#2 Etcheverry said the petition is pursuing every path possible to stop the use of public funding to pay for the Tropicana Park for a future Las Vegas A’s relocation. Etcheverry said that the Nevada voters were shutout in the process and didn’t have a say in the use of public funds for paying for the ballpark to the tune of $380 million.

#3 The organization Schools over Stadiums goal is to make sure public funding goes to public schools and not the Tropicana Park and once enough signatures are on the petitions from four the Nevada districts including Clark County which Las Vegas and Tropicana hotel are a part of the measure to stop using public money will be put on the ballot.

#4 If Nevadans vote to stop the use of public funds to build the Tropicana ball park succeeds the funding for the ballpark ceases and the A’s will have to seek private funding if they want to continue pursuing Las Vegas. They possibly could go back to the City of Oakland and negotiate terms about building at Howard Terminal.

#5 If everything goes as planned Schools over Stadiums will have the vote in November 2024, one year and two months from now. The MLB owners are voting on the A’s relocation in December. If the owners vote yes to relocate the A’s, the Schools over Stadiums measure could hold up shovels in the ground at the Tropicana until the voters have their say in Nov 2024.

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

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Did SF’s Alex Wood make some bad pitches in Cubs loss or did the Cubs just see the ball well?

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Chicago Cubs’ Seiya Suzuki follows through with a three-run double during the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Thu Sep 6, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 The SF Giants are getting further and further away from a NL Wild Card birth on Wednesday at Wrigley Field they were crushed again by the Chicago Cubs 8-2 getting swept in three games.

#2 The Cubs Seiya Suzuki got a key hit against the Giants with a three run double in the bottom of the first which opened the scoring.

#3 Michael, Alex Wood who started got touched up going 2.1 innings five hits, five runs all earned, with a walk and a strike out. Is Wood’s arm just tired or is he just making some bad pitches?

#4 The Cubs picked up their fourth straight win while the Giants picked up their fifth straight loss. The Cubs are now 3.5 games up for second place in the Wild Card and Giants now drop 2.5 games back for a shot at the Wild Card.

#5 The Giants have Thursday off and return to Oracle Park Friday night to host the Colorado Rockies. Rockies starting pitcher TBD and for the Giants left hander Kyle Harrison (1-1 ERA 4.70) a 6:40 pm PT first pitch.

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

Giants get handled by Cubs again 8-2; SF gets swept in Windy City

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By Mary Anne

San Francisco Giants right fielder Mitch Haniger (17) chases down a 3-run double hit by Chicago Cubs’ Seika Suzuki during the first inning at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Thu Sep 6, 2023 (AP News photo)

The San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs played their series finale on Wednesday. The Giants lost 8-2 to the Cubs at Wrigley Field. San Francisco fell to 70-70, while Chicago improved to 76-64.

The Cubs got on the board first. Seiya Suzuki doubled on a sharp line drive to Mitch Haniger. Nico Hoerner, Ian Happ, and Dansby Swanson scored for a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.

The Cubs extended their lead in the bottom of the third inning. Cody Bellinger doubled on a line drive to Mitch Haniger. Ian Happ scored for a 4-0 lead. Nick Madrigal singled on a line drive to Austin Slater. Bellinger scored for a 5-0 lead as Dansby Swanson went to third base.

The Cubs added a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Miguel Amaya homered on a fly ball to left center field for a 6-0 lead.

The Cubs extended their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Christopher Morel singled on a sharp line drive to Luis Matos. Mike Tauchman scored for a commanding 7-0 lead.

The Giants finally got on the board in the top of the seventh inning. Casey Schmitt doubled on a line drive to Mike Tauchman. Luis Matos scored to reduce the Cubs’ lead to 7-1. Joey Bart was out in a sacrifice fly to Mike Tauchman. Casey Schmitt scored to cut the Cubs’ lead to 7-2 with two outs.

The Cubs wrapped up the scoring in the bottom of the seventh inning. Cody Bellinger homered on a fly ball to right field for an 8-2 lead.

Notes: The Giants recalled Joey Bart and Luis Matos from Triple-A Sacramento. Wade Meckler was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento. Patrick Bailey was placed on the 7-day injured list.

Up Next: The Giants will return home to host the Colorado Rockies on Friday at 7:15 pm Pacific. Kyle Harrison (1-1, 4.70 ERA) will start for the Giants. The Rockies’ starting pitcher is TBD.

A’s down Blue Jays 5-2; Oakland avoids getting swept by Toronto

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Oakland Athletics’ Kevin Smith hits a three-run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the sixth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Thu Sep 6, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

Oakland- The Oakland A’s beat the Toronto Blue Jays Wednesday afternoon 5-2 to avoid being swept by the Jays. The A’s starter, JP Sears, earned his fourth win of the year. It took work to defeat a very good Blue Jay team. The Jays are in contention to make the playoffs in the American League.

Their starter, lefty Hyan Jin Ryu, baffled the A’s for the game’s first four innings. Ryu used various low curves, changeups, cutters, and four-seam fastballs to keep the A’s offense off balance. The curves came in around 62 miles per hour, and the changeups were in the 70 miles per hour category, the cutters in the eighties, and his fastball was timed at 91 miles per hour.

Also a lefty, Sears held the powerful Blue Jay lineup to four hits and one run in five innings. Sears made it through the Jays’ lineup three times and allowed only one run.

Toronto scored the first run of the game in the top of the second. Jays’ right-fielder Cavan Biggio led off the inning with a double. Sears retired Santiago Espinal for the first out. Shortstop Ernie Clement singled to drive in Biggio. Clement went to second on the throw to the plate. Sears was able to get out of the inning without any further damage. The Jays lead 1-0 midway through the second.

The A’s took the lead in the bottom of the fourth. A’s left-fielder Brent Rooker led off with a double. Rooker was thrown out at third, attempting to advance on Ryan Noda’s grounder to first. Jay’s first baseman, Vladamir Guerrero, Jr.’s throw to third nailed Rooker for the first out.

Rya retired Jordan Diaz for the second out. A’s catcher Carlos Ruiz sent Ryu’s 90 mph four-seam fastball into the seats near the foul pole in left field. The A’s lead 2-1 after four.

The A’s put three runs on the board in the bottom of the seventh. Trevor Richards was now pitching for Toronto. The first two hitters Richards faced, Jordan Diaz and Carlos Perez, singled. A’s third baseman homered for the fifth time this season to give the A’a a 5-1 lead after six.

With one out in the top of the eighth, Toronto’s second baseman Davis Schneider homered to make it a 5-2 game. A’s reliever Dany Jimenez regained his composure and retired the next two Toronto hitters to end the inning.

The A’s closer, Trevor May, held the Jays scoreless in the ninth to preserve the win for JP Sears. The A’s win 5-2.

Game Notes- With the win, the A’s improved to 43-97. The A’s are now 9-7 in their last sixteen games and are showing signs of improvement. The A’s finished the six-game homestand with a record of 4-2. The Blue Jays fall to 77-63.

The hitting stars for Oakland were catcher Carlos Perez and Kevin Smith. Perez’s two-run blast in the fourth gave the A’s the lead. Smith’s three-run Earl Weaver special in the sixth gave the A’s an unsurmountable advantage.

Mark Kotsay used four relievers Wednesday afternoon. Mason Miller returned to action after a long layoff on the IL. Miller pitched two innings and did not allow a hit. Dany Jimenez pitched the eighth and gave up a solo home run to Toronto’s Davis Schneider. Trevor May earned his 18th save of the year with a scoreless ninth inning.

The A’s are off on Thursday. Oakland will face the Rangers on Friday in Arlington, Texas. Paul Blackburn (4-4 ERA 3.81) will be on the mound, hoping to win his fifth of the year. The Rangers have yet to announce their starter.

The time of the game was two hours and nineteen minutes. There were 3,871 fans in attendance.

Oakland A’s report: Schools over Stadiums files petition to get initiative on ballot to stop public funding for A’s Vegas ballpark

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Rendering of the Las Vegas Tropicana Hotel and Casino ballpark. If successful the ballpark is expected to be completed by 2028 upon the approval vote of MLB owners in Dec 2023. Schools over Stadiums is attempting to put a measure on the ballot stopping public funding of the Vegas ballpark that vote could take place in Nov 2024. (rendering from the Oakland A’s)

By Jerry Feitelberg

Schools over Stadium a group who is working with the Nevada State Education Association filed a referendum petition to get a measure on the ballot that would prevent public funds to pay for a new A’s ballpark at the Tropicana hotel and casino on the Las Vegas strip.

Dawn Etcheverry who is president of the NSEA and Schools over Stadiums and is a music teacher said that the organization is committed to pursue every possible path to stop the use of public funds to subsidize a new ballpark for owner John Fisher and the Oakland A’s.

Etcheverry raised the point that the people of Nevada did not have a say in the process during the Nevada State Legislature special session on public funds use for the ballpark. Etcheverry said that the priorities to use public funding for a stadium over schools and education in the state are misguided and that Nevada is 48th in the state on education should be priority for public funding rather than spending those funds on the Tropicana ballpark.

Etcheverry stated that the funds should go to Nevadans who depend on that money to go to public schools rather than the ballpark. Etcheverry pointed out that the 82nd Legislative session overlooked the overcrowding in classrooms in the state of Nevada, the lack of teachers, and the state has ignored streams of incomes for schools and public education.

If there are enough signatures on the petitions from the four Nevada districts which includes Clark County where the A’s plan to build at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas strip. The measure will be placed on the ballot and if the voters say no to public spending for the A’s new ballpark the A’s move to Las Vegas could be dead unless Fisher can find $380 million in private money for the Vegas ballpark.

Jerry Feitelberg is an Oakland A’s reporter for http://www.sportsradioservice.com