Category: MLB

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Oakland tax payers worried about Howard Terminal costs; A’s look to try their luck against Angels Ohtani at the Big A tonight

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Artists rendition of proposed Howard Terminal ballpark in downtown Oakland. Oakland residents are concerned about taxes from the project. The Oakland City Council are also concerned about the infrastructure costs as well (Artists rendition from the San Francisco Chronicle)

On the A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 The Howard Terminal project still up in the air the A’s brass has been to Las Vegas twice visiting prospective sites.

#2 The main concern is the Oakland taxpayer has regarding the cost of paying for the Howard Terminal Project which is estimated at $12 billion.

#3 Jerry one of the other major concerns regarding Howard Terminal is the infrastructure concerns is public transit with Amtrak and Southern Pacific railroads around the ballpark and how public transit will get fans and employees to the ballpark.

#4 The A’s currently in Anaheim and will see the Angels for another three series at the Oakland Coliseum next week starting Monday night. That might be a positive thing in playing a team twice in a week.

#5 The A’s go at it again tonight against the Angels the A’s will start Cole Irvin (9-12, 4.11) and for the Angels Shohei Ohtani (14-8, 2.47) a 6:38 pm first pitch at the Big A.

Join Jerry for the A’s podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Not Mailing It In: Giants top the Rockies 6-3 to avoid post-season elimination

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–The streaking Giants aren’t just winning games, they’re also setting the table for 2023.

When the off-season’s as anticipated as the Giants, consider it a win-win.

Four different Giants, including rookie Ford Proctor, had run-scoring hits in a 6-3 win over the Rockies on Wednesday night. The Giants have won 8 of 9 and still have (slim) post-season possibilities with seven games remaining in the season.

The Giants trail the sixth-seeded Phillies by 6 1/2 games, and would have to leapfrog the Brewers as well in an almost impossible finish, but the door’s open as is the possibility they could finish .500 or better with their record at 77-78.

It’s been more than a month since the Giants have held a non-losing record with that being on August 23, after they beat the Tigers in Detroit to get to 61-61.

The Giants fashioned a bullpen game gem, starting with John Brebbia pitching a scoreless first inning for the ninth, straight time in his sometimes role as the opener. Sean Hjelle followed with four innings of two-hit ball after being recalled earlier in the day from Triple-A Sacramento as the corresponding move to Jarlin Garcia being placed on the paternity list.

That performance earned Hjelle his first Major League win and a sticky, concoction celebration from his teammates.

“I think there was one beer mixed in there, too,” Hjelle said of what substances where poured on his head in the clubhouse. “It was great. I’m gonna feel gross for a couple of days.”

The 31-year old Shelby Miller was the other Giant to throw multiple innings, pitching the sixth and seventh. He was sharp, starting all six batters he faced with a strike and fanning five.

“He’s getting opposing hitters comfortable looking for a slider and then delivering a really quality strike with his fastball,” manager Gabe Kapler said of Miller.

Tyler Rogers and Yunior Marte also pitched an inning as the Giants held the Rockies to just four hits. The evening served as another hint that the answers to the team’s bullpen woes could be already in the clubhouse. In the last three weeks, Scott Alexander, Alex Young and Miller have been impressive while Brebbia and Camilo Doval have continued their outstanding seasons.

The Giants scored three runs in the first off Colorado’s Jose Urena, who gave up four hits, four walks and took the loss. The Rockies narrowed the deficit to 3-2 on Alan Trejo’s solo shot in the fifth. But the Giants responded, scoring three times in the sixth. Proctor’s first big league RBI came on a sacrifice fly scoring David Villar. Joc Pederson’s two-run triple later in the inning finished the scoring for the Giants.

A’s Drop Game Two To Angels 4-1; Halos rally for 3 runs in fourth inning

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The Oakland A’s Conner Capel swings for a first inning single to score Tony Kemp at Anaheim Stadium against the Los Angeles Angeles on Wed Sep 28, 2022 (AP News photo)

A’s Drop Game Two To Angels 4-1

By Barbara Mason

After losing a close game to the Los Angeles Angels (69-86) Tuesday night, the Oakland A’s (56-99) were looking to even the series Wednesday night. The A’s were tied with the Angels into the eighth inning Tuesday night but Los Angeles scored a single run in the eighth and that was the ball game 4-3.

Oakland scored in tonights game in the first inning taking a 1-0 lead. Connor Capel singled driving in Tony Kemp for the early lead.

The Angels started hitting in the fourth inning. After a quiet Tuesday night, Mike Trout, who is always a threat, hit a homer to center to tie up the game 1-1. Matt Thaiss would follow with a single and Shohei Otani scored to give Los Angeles the lead 2-1. They would extend that lead when Matt Duffy grounded into a fielder’s choice to shortstop and Taylor Ward scored.

Taylor Ward would strike again in the eighth inning knocking one out of Angel Stadium giving Los Angeles a 4-1 lead. That would be the final. Oakland’s starting pitcher Adrian Martinez only lasted 4.2 innings allowing five hits and three runs. He had four strikeouts.

The A’s relief pitching only allowed two hits through the remainder of the game sending in five pitchers, Sam Selman, Norge Ruiz, Kirby Snead, Austin Pruitt and Domingo Acevedo.

The Angels starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen went five innings and allowed three hits and one run with eight strikeouts.

In Game Three of this series we will get to see Shohei Ohtani on the mound for Los Angeles currently with a 2.47 ERA and a 14-8 win /loss record. This could possibly be Ohtani’s last start this season. Cole Irvin will start for the A’s. He has a 4.05 ERA and a 9-12 win/lloss record. First pitch is scheduled for 6:38 PM PT.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Pederson looking forward to working hard and coming back next season; plus more Giant profiles

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San Francisco Giants Joc Pederson is congratulated after scoring a second inning run by teammates in the Giants dugout at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Sat Sep 10, 2022. Pederson said during the post game presser. Pederson said he looks forward to returning next season. (AP News file photo)

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 Giants outfielder Joc Pederson said “your either in the playoffs or your not and when your in the playoffs anything could happen.” Pederson was not with the team last season when they won 107 games but how disappointing has it got to for Pederson not be on a playoff team this season.

#2 Pederson who hit a homer on Tuesday night said he got under the pitch and it just got out. Pederson said it got out because he’s pretty strong.

#3 Pederson said in the post game show Tuesday that he enjoyed the 2022 season being with the Giants and won’t see this same group together again.

#4 Pederson also said that with the last six games left he could look forward to coming back next season work hard and find a way to get back in the playoffs.

#5 Michael, Thursday’s starters for the Rockies Ryan Feltner right hander (3-8, 5.91) and for the Giants Carlos Rodon (13-8, 2.98) a 6:45p PDT first pitch at Oracle Park.

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

A’s Drop Game One to Angels 4-3; Adell’s RBI drives in Duffy for walk off single

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Matt Duffy scored on a Jo Adell eighth inning single for a game winning walk off as the Los Angeles Angels edge the Oakland A’s 4-3 on Tue Sep 27, 2022 at the Big A in Anaheim (AP News photo)

A’s Drop Game One To Angels 4-3

By Barbara Mason

Tuesday evening the Oakland A’s (56-98) traveled down to Angel Stadium to take on Los Angeles (68-86). There will be no post-season for either of these teams after a disappointing season for both.

Oakland had a great second inning scoring three runs. Christian Pache hit a single and Chad Pinder scored for the early 1-0 lead. In the same inning Nick Allen doubled to deep left, Jordan Diaz and Shea Langeliers both score to extend their lead 3-0.

Just when it looked like Oakland really had something going, the Angels had an equally successful second inning. Matt Thaiss singled driving Mike Ford home. Livan Soto hit a sacrifice fly and Matt Duffy scored for the Angels. Los Angels would tie this game up when Luis Rengifo singled and Thaiss scored and we had a new ball game 3-3.

After a rough start in the second inning for Angel’s pitcher Paul Sandoval, he kept the A’s off the scoreboard going into the fifth inning. Despite that he was pulled and relief pitcher Andrew Wantz would take over on the mound.

The Angels threatened in the sixth inning when Soto hit his first career triple. Oakland pitcher James Kaprielian got a huge out dismissing Rengifo who struck out swinging to end the inning.

This game remained tied going into the eighth inning. Los Angeles would break the tie when Jo Adell singled and Matt Duffy scored giving the Angels a 4-3 lead going into the ninth inning.

It was quick work for Los Angeles in the ninth inning. Sean Murphy grounded out, Dermis Garcia struck out, Jonah Bride flied out and that was the ball game.

The A’s stubbornly hung onto this game into the eighth inning but the Angels prevailed in the end with more offensive fire power. Los Angeles had 12 hits in the game and Oakland had 9 hits. Oakland came up just short in this one.

Tomorrow the A’s will try to even the score. Adrian Martinez will take the mound for Oakland with a 4-5 win loss record. Michael Lorenzen will start for the Angels. He has a 7-6 win loss record. First pitch will be at 6:38 PM PT.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: National Anthem standoff doesn’t quite workout as planned; Braves honored at White House

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From left, Braves President of Baseball Operations Alex Anthopoulos, manager Brian Snitker, President Joe Biden, and Braves President and CEO Terry McGuirk who were celebrating their 2021 Championship at the White House on Mon Sep 26, 2022 (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The Seattle Mariners Robbie Ray and the Kansas City Royals Luke Weaver both did a national anthem standoff and while after the anthem was played both Ray and Weaver stayed in front of their respective dugouts with their hats over their hearts until the umpire threw them both out of the game on Sunday.

#2 President Biden welcomed the World Champion Atlanta Braves to celebrated their World Series victory in 2021. Biden said that the Braves “unstoppable” the Braves presented Biden with a number 46 jersey for being the 46th president.

#3 The Cleveland Guardians made an unexpected finish finishing at the top of the AL Central to clinch the division with a win over the Texas Rangers. The Guardians are the youngest team in baseball as well.

#4 Amaury, Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly has announced that he will not manage the Marlins past this season. Mattingly had been with the Marlins since 2016 and did not option to seek a contract extension.

#5 The Marlins wore the Cuban Sugar Cane uniforms over the weekend. The Marlins wanted to honor the former Triple A team the Sugar Canes. The Sugar Canes were a minor league team from 1954-60.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the Major League Baseball Hispanic Heritage Hall of Fame Museum and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

The Way-Too-Early 2023 NL West Power Rankings: The Giants need to retool

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By Morris Phillips

At 27-40 with all nine remaining games to be played, the Giants’ answer to the question, “How the West was lost?” lies squarely with divisional play.

The first-place Dodgers lit up the Giants, winning 15 of 19, the first time LA has beaten the Giants as many as 15 times in a season. The second-place Padres have won 11 of 16, with a couple of the losses delivered in excruciating fashion. And Arizona leads the season series between the clubs 9-7 with three games remaining.

Only the Rockies have felt the Giants impose their will, dropping 11 of 16 to San Francisco with three games left to play. The .402 winning percentage in divisional play, if it stands, will be one of its worst since divisional play commenced in 1969.

So what does this mean for next season, one in which divisional play will be reduced by 24 games, and interleague play expanded?

Who knows? But we’ll pretend to know anyways with our Way-To-Early 2023 NL West power rankings.

1) Los Angeles Dodgers: Count on it, the Dodgers unprecedented divisional dominance will extend into a second decade as they again finish first in the NL West in 2023. Start with the imposing top of the lineup trio of Trea Turner, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman and go from there. The Dodgers undoubtedly will open the bank account for Turner, the 29-year old free agent to be, who will be their foremost, off-season priority. Max Muncy will also likely return on the team’s option to retain him. That leaves Justin Turner as the guy who status is up in the air.

Add in the youthful crew of Gavin Lux, Trayce Thompson, James Outman along with pitchers Walker Buehler, Julio Urias and Dustin May and just know the Dodgers have an embarrassment of riches.

2) San Diego Padres: San Diego’s biggest nightmare–the PED suspension of Fernando Tatis Jr.–will negatively impact next season as well, with the ban stretching across the first 30 games of 2023.

Along with that, the Padres have played losing baseball since June 23 (34-39) dating well before the trade deadline acquisition of Juan Soto and Tatis’ suspension. The Dodgers have had their way with their Southern California rivals, beating them 12 times, nine of those by five runs or more.

The Padres look set for the 2022 playoffs barring a collapse, but they could face the Braves in the opening round without the benefit of a home game to energize their fans, who have filled Petco Park this season in record numbers.

So what’s next?

The Padres don’t seem likely to unleash another round of spending heading into next season, but they will face tough decisions in regards to how to improve a rotation that has seen Mike Clevinger and Blake Snell regress. Also their bullpen with Josh Hader’s arrival hasn’t been as good as they were in 2021. Still, the Padres should be a second place, playoff contender in 2023.

3) San Francisco Giants: The Giants will undoubtedly make the most personnel decisions among NL West teams in the off-season. Will they also make the biggest decisions?

The Giants are one of the teams that will be involved in the Aaron Judge sweepstakes, a big money game if there ever was one. Can they win it? The odds have to be as little as 20 percent that they can, but if so, they’ll lean heavily on Judge’s ties to Northern California and his opportunity to play in low scoring, competitive games where home runs are essential.

Regardless of Judge’s decision the Giants must first decide on Carlos Rodon’s future and the wisdom of handing the strikeout king a four-year extension that would bring the total of his deal near $100 million. If so, the Giants would be set in their rotation with a 1-2 punch of Rodon and Logan Webb.

Beyond that the team has intriguing decisions regarding Evan Longoria, Brandon Belt (UFA), Mike Yastrzemski and Lamonte Wade Jr. But the biggest choices will be to improve the bullpen that fell dramatically from the top of the 2021 NL rankings.

Whatever transpires, the goal is getting the Giants back into the postseason mix.

4) Arizona Diamondbacks: The D’Backs keep spending money, the D’Backs keep adding pieces, and they have stability in manager Torey Luvullo.

When will it add up?

Arizona’s last playoff appearance was in 2017. The last time they won a playoff game was in 2011. Since winning the World Series in 2001, they’ve won two playoff games while cycling through five, different managers. What they have done in the last 20 years is make a number of splashy free agent signings (Shelby Miller, Madison Bumgarner, Justin Upton) and not seen much in terms of results.

Ok, what’s next?

Stay the course. Christian Walker’s elevated his game, becoming one of the NL’s premiere sluggers in 2022 with 36 homers thus far, Daulton Varsho’s come up with 50 extra-base hits this season, and Ketel Marte (56 extra-base hits) was good, and could easily regain the form of his previous, two seasons. Stone Garrett, a promising prospect that got stuck in the minors, could be ready to become an every day outfielder. They have a core offensively.

Merrill Kelly and Zac Gallen–a pair of starting pitchers that the Giants know all too well–are frontline starters and the centerpieces of a plus, starting rotation. Both Kelly and Gallen are signed through the next, couple of seasons.

The Diamondbacks have to get younger, and better in their bullpen and make a tough decision regarding the future of 32-year old Nick Ahmed.

Do they go out and spend a pricey addition again? Maybe not, and if not, that’s the good news.

5) Colorado Rockies: Will the Rox say adieu to manager Bud Black? Will they realize the production they sought by signing free agent slugger Kris Bryant? Can heralded starter German Marquez regain his form, and get his ERA under five?

That’s a lot of questions, and there are more in Denver. Until some or all are answered, the Rockies will carry up the rear in a very, demanding division.

A’s Look Ahead To Meetings With Angels and Mariners

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James Kaprielian delivers against the Seattle Mariners Wed Sep 21, 2022 at the Oakland Coliseum for the Oakland Athletics. Kaprielian gets the start on Tue Sep 27, 2022 in Anaheim against the Los Angeles Angels to open a three game series. (AP News photo)

A’s Look Ahead To Meetings With Angels and Mariners

By Barbara Mason

After an up and down series with the New York Mets this past weekend, the Oakland A’s look ahead to meetings with the Los Angeles Angels and the Seattle Mariners.

They will kickoff a three game series in Anaheim against the Angels starting this Tuesday, head up to Seattle for three Friday and finish off the season at the Coliseum with three against the Angels next Monday evening.

Neither the A’s (56-97) nor the Angels (67-86) have much going this season however the Mariners (83-69) are right in the thick of the playoff hunt.

On Tuesday night the A’s will be down at Angel Stadium for a three game series with first pitch at 6:38PM PT. James Kaprielian will take the mound for the A’s with a 4.43 ERA and a 4-9 win/loss record.

He did win his last outing in Seattle against the Mariners on September 21st. For the Angels, they will send Patrick Sandoval with a 3.01 ERA who also won his last outing against the Rangers.

Kaprielian will have to handle some heavy hitters in Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani. Los Angeles’ leader for RBI’s is Taylor Ward with a .272 batting average another tough customer. Oakland has some offensive fire power of their own in Seth Brown and Sean Murphy.

The A’s got some great offensive work Saturday night beating the NL East leaders, the New York Mets 10-4 coming away with 14 hits in that game. Oakland got some nice work from most of their starting lineup. They really took the Mets to task.

Ramon Laureano remains out with a hamstring issue and will miss the remainder of the season. Oakland will really miss him in the outfield. He recently received a PRP injection in his right hip and will hopefully benefit from it.

There will be some huge crowds for this series with the Angels offering some unheard of ticket deals starting at an unbelievable $1.00 per ticket. Anaheim wants to sell the place out and with prices this low they probably will. Crowds like this will really pick up both teams and will be great fun to watch on NBC Sports California or whatever channel brings you your Oakland A’s.

Oakland A’s Preview: A’s prepare to pay a visit to Anaheim to face Ohtani and the Angels

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Instead of getting the big fly the Los Angeles Angels Shohei Ohtani flies out against the Minnesota Twins on Sep 24, 2022 at Target Field in Minneapolis. The Oakland A’s open a three game series at the Big A in Anaheim Tue Sep 27, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The A’s have nine games left to play in 2022. Oakland has won 56 and lost 97. The team is hoping not to lose 100 games, but they would have to win seven of the last nine to avoid that fate. Their record would indicate that they would win three and lose six.

They will play the Los Angeles Angels six times, three at Anaheim and the last three at home. The A’s will travel to Seattle for three with the Mariners. Those games will occur after the A’s finish with the Angels on Thursday.

The Angels had high hopes for the 2022 season. The team played well early in the year. Their season derailed when they had a fourteen-game losing streak. The Angels fired their manager, Joe Maddon, in midseason. Maddon had great success managing the Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago Cubs.

Maddon was the skipper of the Cubs when Chicago won its first World Series Crown in 2016. The Cubs ended 108 years of futility. The Angels, like many other teams, lost key players to injury. The Angels’ starting rotation did not live up to expectations.

The bullpen was a problem, too. Their three-time MVP Mike Trout spent time on the IL with a back injury. Their other MVP, Shohei Ohtani, continued to wow the baseball world with his exploits. As a pitcher, Ohtani is 14-8 and has an ERA of 2.47.

Ohtani probably is in the race for the AL Cy Young Award. As the Angels’ DH, Ohtani is hitting .271 with 34 home runs, 93 RBIs, 87 runs scored, and an OPS of .887. The AL 2022 MVP will be Ohtani or the New York Yankees’ slugger Aaron Judge. Judge may win baseball’s Triple Crown. He currently leads the league in hitting, home runs, and RBIs.

The Angels have other players that love to beat the A’s. Their second baseman Luis Rengifo had had key hits against the A’s. First baseman Jared Walsh and outfielder Taylor Ward can give the A’s headaches.

The A’s dismal season is coming to an end. The team has used 63 players. The A’s have made so many transactions in the last month. It’s a case of here today and gone tomorrow. The team will look at many new players to see if they fit into the A’s future next year.

The A’s will send James Kaprielian to the hill Tuesday night. Kap is 4-9, and his ERA is 4.43. Kaprielian had his best outing of the year last week when he went seven innings and allowed two hits. Kaprielian had made 34 prior starts without going past the sixth inning. The big righty would love to finish the season pitching well. Lefty Patrick Sandoval will go for the Angels. Sandoval is 6-9 with an era of 3.01.

Adrian Martinez pitches for Oakland on Wednesday. Martinez came to Oakland from the San Diego Padres in the trade for Seam Manaea. The 25-year-old righty from Mexicali, Mexico, is 4-5 with a high ERA of 6.10. The Angels will have Michael Lorenzen on the mound. Lorenzen is 7-6 and has an ERA of 4.78.

Thursday night’s game features lefty Cole Irvin for the A’s going against Shohei Ohtani of the Angels. Irvin has struggled a bit in the second half of the year. The A’s didn’t give Irvin a lot of run support earlier in the season. Irvin is 9-12, and his ERA is now 4.11. Ohtani is an incredible athlete. Ohtani has a fastball that can exceed 100 miles per hour. His hitting prowess was noted earlier in the preview.

Neither team will be going to the playoffs. Both teams will evaluate players who want to be on their roster for the 2023 season. Some of the A’s players to watch are Shea Langoliers, Nick Allen, Jonah Bride, Dermis Garcia, Jordan Diaz, and Conner Capel. Even though the teams won’t be in the playoffs, the fans should watch the games. Ohtani and Trout are not to be missed.

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: Alonso five RBIs sets team record; Scherzer goes six against A’s in 13-4 laugher at the Coliseum

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New York Mets designated hitter Pete Alonso makes his way around the bases after hitting a fourth inning home run at the Oakland Coliseum against the Oakland A’s on Sun Sep 24, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Barbara:

#1 Pete Alonso set a team RBI mark which speaks to the success of New York Mets. Alonso homered, doubled and drove five runs to set a team record.

#2 Met’s pitcher Max Scherzer pitched six innings to hold down the Oakland A’s for the lopsided win at the Oakland Coliseum 13-4 as the Mets take two out of three from the A’s.

#3 With the win the Mets now are 1.5 games ahead of the Atlanta Braves for the NL East title.

#4 The Met’s are hot winning eight of their last ten games and in Sunday’s game it just seemed as soon as the Mets starting swinging the bats the A’s were in the rearview mirror.

#5 A’s open up a three game series with the Los Angeles Angels starting Tuesday night at the Big A in Anaheim. Starting for the A’s James Kaprielian (4-9, 4.43) he’ll be opposed by the Angels Patrick Sandoval (6-9, 3.01) first pitch at 6:38 pm PDT

Join Barbara for the A’s podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com