Category: MLB

Crawford’s RBI single scores Ruf for walk off run in ninth for SF’s 13-12 win

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Let the celebration begin the San Francisco Giants Roc Pederson (23) and Brandon Crawford (35) jump for joy after Crawford’s walk off RBI single in the bottom of the ninth scores Darrin Ruf at Oracle Park in San Francisco against the New York Mets on Tue May 24, 2022 (San Francisco Giants twitter photo)

New York (NL). 12. 18. 0

San Francisco. 13. 19. 0

Tuesday May 24, 2022

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–Before the Mets came to town, I asked James and Max Wood, my Massachusetts Mets Mavens, what they could expect from the National League East’s first place team.

Max wrote, “The person on the Mets I’d pay the most attention to is Pete Alonso. Since the start of this month, he’s hitting over .300, has hit 6 homers, and has an OPS of close to 1.000.” James commented,

The Mets are playing all-around great ball so far. Aggressive but smart on the bases. Consistent fielding. Pitching has been solid, even without Jacob DeGrom.

As far as specific players:

-utility infielder Luis Guillorme is red-hot at the plate and in the field. His last 10 games (with an at-bat) he’s 14 for 32 (.438).

-Brandon Nimmo (CF) leads off and is my favorite player on the team. Runs hard on EVERYTHING (including HRs and BBs!).

-Jeff McNeil (2B and LF mostly) is also a scrappy player who hits the ball everywhere.

-I guess with DeGrom and Max Scherzer out, Pete Alsonzo is their “superstar” (sorry, Francisco Lindor). Aside from how far he can hit the ball, he’s also just fun to watch—young, enthusiastic, and friendly. He’s not Keith Hernandez, but I think he’s quite good at first. Easily the best Met there since John Olerud (but that’s not saying much).

Well, all the mentioned players who appeared in Wednesday night’s 13-3 rout of the Giants performed as Alex Wood had expected. Brandon Nimmo went two for five; Pete Alonso, three for five with three runs batted in; and Jeff McNeill, two for four with two ribbies.

Game recap: So you can see that Logan Webb, coming into the game with a record 5-1,3.54 after his frustrating last start, when the bullpen blew his 5-2 lead against the Rockies, faced a daunting task in front of him when he threw his first pitch, a ball, at 6:45.

Ex-A’s keep coming to Oracle to haunt win starved Oakland fans. Tonight, two of the three ghosts of glory (or at least contention) past were Starling Marte, playing in right field, and Mark Canha, in left. The other was Chris Bassitt, taking the mound to start for the team from Queens.

Bassitt had been mediocre in his start, lasting 6-1/3 innings and yielding four earned runs on nine hits, two of the four base variety, escaping with a non decision that left his record at 4-2, 2.77. The 33 year old righty has a large arsenal of pitches.

It features, in descending order of frequency, a sinker, slider, cutter, four seamer, curve, and change of pace. He uses his favorite pitch about 27% of the time.

When it was all over, the Giants had outlasted the Mets, defeating them 13-12 in a contest that defies description and may well have caused heart attacks all around the Bay Area and in the households of east coasters who stayed up late to listen to or watch the game.

Another ex Athletic, Tommy LaStella, led off against Bassitt in the bottom of the second with a single to short. MikeYastrzemski’s double into the left field corner put two runners in scoring position with none down.

Darin Ruf’s grounder to short scored LaStella, but neither Joc Pederson nor Brandon Crawford enabled Yaz any further advancement.

McNeill opened the top of the second with a rifle shot down the right field line that Ruf’s dive just missed blocking. Then Eduardo Escobar took an 0-2 pitch into right for a single that put runners on the corners.

Canha’s single to center knotted the score at one, and there it stood after Dominic Smith forced Canha out at second, Tomás Nido grounded out to Web, and Nimmo ended the frame with a soft liner to short.

Lightening struck in the home third. With one out, Yastrzemski walked. Ruf fanned on three pitches, and then Pederson took Bassitt´s first offering, an 87 mph cutter, 363 feet deep and over the right field wall. San Francisco was up again, this time 3-1.

The home team continued attacking in the fourth. With one down, Luis González bounced a double off the right field wall. Kevin Padlo grounded out to second, allowing González to take third. Michael Papierski, batting in the ninth position and still looking for his first big league hit, did his bit by walking.

With the count at 2-1, Bassitt threw him a 93 mph four seamer, an LaStella deposited it 347 feet away, over the wall in right. Suddenly, the Giants had six runs on the board, and they led by five.

The Mets got one of those runs back in the top of the fifth. Catcher Thomas Nido led off with a single to center and moved on to second when Nimmmo was hit by a pitch.

Marte hit into what crew chief and first base umpire James Hoye thought was a 6-4-3 double play, but the review crew in New York disabused him of that misapprehension, and Marte was ruled safe at first. The force out left Nido on third base, from which he scored on Lindor’s sacrifice fly to center.

That run, while drawing the Mets closer, did little to turn the tide because Ruf opened the home fifth with a single to left center, and Roc Pederson went yard with his eighth round tripper of the year, a no doubter that carried 436 feet into right. It came on a 93 mph sinker

Bassitt fanned Crawford on a full count for the first out of the frame, issued a walk to Thairo Estrada and then went to the showers. His replacement was Stephen Nogosek, who struck out Luis González and Kevin Padlo to end the episode.

Bassitt had lasted 4-1/3 innings and allowed eight runs, all of them earned, on eight hits, three of them four baggers, and three walks. He struck out four. His pitch total was 92, 52 of them strikes. His ERA rose to 3.91.

Webb didn’t come out to pitch the sixth. In his five innings of work, he held the Mets to two runs, both earned, on five hits, a walk, and a hit batter. He threw 93 pitches, 63 for strikes, and lowered his ERA by a tiny amount to 3.54. Jarlín García replaced him and, in spite of a one out double to Escobar, held New York scoreless in his inning before yielding to Dominic Leone at the top of the seventh.

Facing Leone, Francisco Lindor cut into the Giants´ lead. After Marte beat out the throw on a two out grounder to third, the Mets´shortstop sent a 95 mph four seamer into the seats above the Levi’s Landing sign in right to make the score 8-4, San Francisco.

Tyler Rogers brought his magical spinning bag of sidearm tricks to the mound in the New York eighth, but none of them seemed to work. McNeil singled to right and went to second on an Escobar single to left center. Canha hit a squeakily grounder to third that, perhaps because of the strange spin on Rogers’ pitches, Padlo couldn’t handle.

Drew Smith sent a solid single to right center, scoring McNeil and Escobar, and Canha reached third. With the score now 8-6, Luis Guillorme rounded to first, Ruf threw home, and Papierski threw to Padlo at third, who tagged Canha for the first out of the inning. Nimmo got an infield single.

Starling Marte hit a grounder to third, and it looked like a throwing error on the throw to second that allowed. Nimmo to reach that base and Marte to be safe at first. It was ruled a hit. Lindor hit a liner, Pederson fell over himself trying to field it, and the Mets’ shortstop was on third with a bases clearing triple.

He scored on a sac fly by Alonso. McNeil and Escobar singled, and Camilo Doval replaced Rogers, who had pitched 1/3 of an inning and allowed seven runs, all of them earned, on seven hits. Doval got Canha to ground out to short to stop the massacre

Drew Smith was given the task of preserving New York’s three run lead in the bottom of the eighth. He breezed through the first two batters he faced but then yielded a single to Yaz and walked Ruf. All of a sudden, Pederson was at the plate representing the potential tying run. All of a sudden, he scored it, with a splash hit, no less! On a 98 mph four seamer. Exit Smith, enter Joely Rodríguez.

Crawford lined back to him, the ball bounced to third, and Crawford beat Escobar’s throw to first. Estrada followed with a single to right. Crawford rounded second and had to scramble back to beat Marte’s throw to the bag. González grounded to second.

McNeil got his glove on it but couldn’t control it, and Gonazález’s infield hit loaded the bases. Exit, Rodríguez, enter Adam Ottavino, wearing number zero. He struck Padlo out, and we went into the ninth tied at eleven.

Believe me, I’m not making this up. (But I am having a tough time following it).

John Brebbia, pitching for SF in the ninth, was greeted by a triple (surprise!) by Dominic Smith. Travis Jankowski ran for him and scored on Nimmo’s sac fly to left. Marte grounded out to short.

The Giants were down to their last three outs.

Edwin Díaz strolled in from the bull pen to try to earn the save.

Wilmer Flores singled to ccnter.

LaStella grounded into a double play, second to short to first.

Mike Yastrzemski came to bat. He worked a full count.

He walked.

Darin Ruf singled to right, moving Yaz into scoring position at second.

The Mets huddled on the mound.

Joc Pederson stood in the batter´s box. He took a strike.

He took a ball that almost hit him on his front knee.

He singled to center, scoring Yastrzemski, tying the game, and moving Ruf to second.

Crawford laced a 2-2 pitch into left, Ruf rounded third and headed home

He slid between catcher Patrick Mazeika’s legs with the winning run.

John Brebbia got the win. He’s 2-0, 2.70. Díaz got charged with the loss. He’s 1-1, 2.89.

The rubber game of this amazing series is scheduled to start at 6:45 the Mets will start left hand pitcher Thomas Szapucki (0-0, 0.00) the Giants will go with Jakob Junis (1-1,2.70) at Oracle Park.

A’s beat M’s 7-5; End M’s 13-game dominance over Oakland

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Top of the fifth inning the Oakland A’s Jed Lowrie (left) is greeted by teammate Elvis Andrus (right) after hitting a two run fifth inning home run at T Mobile Park in Seattle on Tue May 24, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s (18-27) offense, slumbering for most of the season, pounded out 13 hits en route to a hard-fought 7-5 win over the Seattle Mariners (18-26) Tuesday night. The A’s had 11 hits in the game Monday night but lost by one run.

Oakland was hoping starter James Kaprielian would give the team a quality start. Unfortunately for the Green and Gold, Kapielian lasted five innings. He gave seven up hits and five runs in his five innings of work. His era went from 4.50 to 5.48 as a result.

The M’s starter George Kirby didn’t do well either. Kirby pitched five innings and was tagged for eight hits and four runs. The saving grace for the A’s was the work of the bullpen. Sam Moll, Domingo Acevedo, Zach Jackson, and Danny Jimenez pitched four scoreless innings and allowed the Mariners two hits.

The A’s found the M’s bullpen offerings to their liking as they put three runs on the board to win 7-5. Sam Moll was the winning pitcher, and Dany Jimenez earned his ninth save.

Dating back to last season, Seattle had beaten the A’s 13 consecutive times. The A’s win Tuesday night ended that losing streak. It wasn’t easy as the M’s fought back every time Oakland had the lead.

The A’s drew first blood in the first inning. Second baseman Tony Kemp started things going with a leadoff single. Kemp stole second and scored on Chad Pinder’s double. The A’s made it 2-0 when they plated a run in the top of the third. With one out, Kemp singled to right-center. Designated hitter Jed Lowrie doubled to shallow rightfield to drive in Kemp.

In the bottom half of the third, Seattle evened the score. With one out, Taylor Trammell walked. Jesse Winker singled, sending Trammell to third. Both players scored when M’s first baseman Ty France doubled to center. The game was 2-2 after three.

In the top of the fifth, with one out, Tony Kemp bunted for a hit. It was his third hit of the night. Jed Lowrie then homered to make it 4-2. The lead didn’t last long as the M’s scored three times in the bottom of the fifth.

M’s catcher Cal Raleigh reached safely on Seth Brown’s error. Jesse Winker singled, sending Raleigh to third. Raleigh scored on Ty France’s ground out. The M’s kept the rally going. Kaprielian retired Adam Frazier for the second out. Julio Rodriguez homered to put the Mariners in the lead for the first time, 5-4.

As mentioned above, the A’s fought back. In the sixth, they tied the game when shortstop Elvis Andrus led off the inning with a solo dinger. They broke the tie in the seventh. With two out and no one on base, Sean Murphy walked.

Elvis Andrus singled. Murphy was able to score on Jesse Winker’s fielding error. Andrus advanced to second on the play. A’s right-fielder Luis Barrera doubled to drive in Andrus with the A’s seventh run. The A’s win 7-5.

Game Notes-The stars of the game for Oakland Tony Kemp, with three hits and three runs scored. Jed Lowrie had two hits, including a home run and three RBIs. Elvis Andrus had two hits, two runs, and a homer. Luis Barrera had two knocks and an RBI.

Seattle’s starters were Jesse Winker with two hits and two runs scored. Ty France had three RBIs, and Julio Rodriguez hit a home run, good for two runs.

The A’s and Mariners finish the three-game series Wednesday afternoon at T-Mobile Park. A first pitch slated at 12:27 pm. Starting for Oakland Paul Blackburn (4-0, 1.91) and for Seattle Robbie Ray (4-4, 4.77).

He Was A Giant (Hot Dog)? Willie Montanez 1975-76 by Tony the Tiger Hayes

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Former San Francisco Giant first baseman Willie Montanez who played first for the Giants at Candlestick Park during 1975-76 is the subject of Tony the Tiger’s He was a Giant feature (file photo from Under The Radar Sports)

He Was A Giant (Hot Dog)?

Willie Montanez – 1B – 1975-76 – # 22

He Was A Giant?

Philadelphia sports columnist Bill Conlin once wrote the following about a rangy former San Francisco center fielder:

“Two-thirds of the Earth is covered by water, the other one-third by Garry Maddox.”

Meanwhile, another sage baseball mind once had this to say about the animated first baseman the Giants acquired from Phillies in exchange for Maddox in 1975:

“There isn’t enough mustard in the ball park to cover Willie Montanez.”

While Maddox was a defensive leading man, Montanez was a storied showboat.

Whenever a ballpark vendor cried out “ hey hot dog!”, the Puerto Rican infielder, who played the game with a lot of relish, would turn and ask “que paso?

Though the term has not had much play in recent years, “hot dog” was the old school appellation used to describe players who liked to show over the top flair.

While some of today’s ball players show pizazz with the occasional bat flip or fist pump, few show boastful exuberance on a daily basis like former colorful players such as Babe Ruth, Satchel Paige, Luis Tiant, Jimmy Piersall, Pasqual Perez or former Giants fan favorite Tito Fuentes.

But Montanez, was baseball’s most colorful and consistent frankfurter in spikes.

On defense, Willie swiped at pop flies as if he were literally trying to swat flys.

As he approached the plate to hit he twirled his Louisville Slugger as if he were fronting a marching band at the Rose Parade.

After striking out he would distally flick his bat away as if it were defective.

Montanez’s sideways ambling home run jog approximated a crab casually strolling the beach.

For fans, Montanez was a hoot to watch. But he was hardly exclusively adored.

Not everyone – including a few of his teammates –

“Hot dog” was one of the tamer phrases used to describe Montanez. But he didn’t seem to mind one bit.

“I don’t care what they call me,” Montanez once said. “That’s my style and I can’t change, even if I wanted to. Sure, I hear a lot of stuff yelled at me, but it don’t bother me.”

Montanez played for San Francisco during arguably the most trying time in Orange & Black franchise history.

During Montanez’s mid-1970s tenure by the Bay, the club flailed aimlessly in post-Mays era fog.

As Montanez performed a matador impression with his bat and caught balls between his legs without a care as if he was on loan from Ringling Bros., the Orange & Black was going bankrupt and nearly ended up moving to Toronto.

And while he was outwardly showing zeal for the game, inside Montanez was hating life as a Giant.

The astroturf was too hard, Candlestick was too cold and the City was too far his home base of Puerto Rico.

Not surprisingly his uniform number was “Too-Too”, make that “22.”

So Willie’s life as a Giant did not last long – 195 games – but fans got an eyeful while it lasted.

Why Was He a Giant?

Montanez was acquired by San Francisco in exchange for center fielder Maddox in a straight up deal with Philadelphia on May 4, 1975.

History would soon reveal the swap to be one of the best in Fightins’ history. The stylish Maddox became a perennial All-Star and a lineup stabilizer who would win eight consecutive gold glove awards in Liberty Town.

But the early returns had the advantage in the Giants court. At the time of the trade, the popular and peppy Montanez was batting .331 with Philly, while the introverted Maddox was hitting sub-.200 for the Orange & Black.

Maddox was once the mod-looking signal caller of the most agile outfield trios in baseball (flanked by Gary Matthews and Bobby Bonds in left and right respectively).

Though the Vietnam War veteran had fine season in 1974 (.284, 8, 50), it was a significant regression from his breakout 1973 campaign. The financially flailing Giants responded with a slash to Garry’s pay. Not surprisingly Maddox asked for a trade.

When the a dour faced Garry stumbled out of the gate in ‘75, the Giants decided it was time to cut ties with the adroit athlete who grew up idolizing Willie Mays.

With Oakland born product Von Joshua waiting in the wings to step into center field, the Giants – also, desperately looking for a gate attraction – sprung the deal for the spirited Montanez.

The proficient Montanez would give the Giants there first legitimate starting first baseman since they traded Willie McCovey two years previously.

“Montanez gives us hitting, a good glove, speed and durability,” explained Giants manager Wes Westrum. “The significance of this deal is quite simple. “We wanted Willie for his bat and he will hit fifth between Gary Matthews and Chris Speier.”

Despite Maddox’s soon to be evident dividends, shipping the popular Montanez out of dodge after five very good seasons with Philly was a very difficult choice for Phillies general manager Bill Giles.

The veteran front office man got chocked announcing the Montanez swap.

“I was in tears; he wasn’t… Oh, Willie cried a little bit at first, but then he was very calm and cool and collected. I love the guy,” an emotional Giles told Philly scribes the day of the trade.

Giles was seemingly ashamed to be sending his loyal bat twirler to a destination as abhorrent as Candlestick Park.

“I thought he’d get very emotional, especially when he found out he was going to San Francisco. Nobody wants to play there,” the GM somberly modulated.

Before & After

Montanez is one of the more well-traveled players in baseball history. In 14 big league seasons Montanez played for nine big league clubs, including twice for Philadelphia. He also played a significant amount of time in the Cardinals farm system.

Montanez had yet to formally graduate from high school when he was signed by the Cardinals in 1965. He was just 17.

Surprisingly he found himself in the big leagues the following spring when he was plucked out of the Redbirds nest by the Angels in the Rule 5 draft. But an obviously overmatched Montanez did not remain long in California and was returned to the St. Louis system after failing to bat safely in eight Halos contests.

Montanez eventually resurfaced in the bigs again in 1970 with Philadelphia. He began 1971 as a starting outfielder for the Phillies and belted a career high 30 home runs with 99 RBI for the last place club. Montanez was runner up to Altlanta’s Earl Williams for NL Rookie of the Year honors in 1971.

It was in ‘71 that reports of Willie’s hot dog attitude became a regular addendum to his bio.

His bat flips and demonstrative display of dissatisfaction after strike outs rubbed opponents and umpires alike in a very wrong way.

“I know it’s around the league, Montanez is a big hot dog,” said Phillies manager Frank Lucchesi that season. “But my answer to that is I’ll take 25 hot dogs (if they play like him.)”

After five straight seasons of finishing last or next to last in the NL East, the Phillies began to come together in 1974 – with young talent such as Mike Schmidt, Greg Luzinski and Larry Bowa blossoming around superstar starting pitcher Steve Carlton. The team moved up to third place that season.

Despite putting up good numbers with the Giants, Montanez was never really satisfied with being on the west coast. He groused publicly about Candlestick Park and being separated from his family. Prior to the 1976 season Willie refused to sign a contract extension and requested a trade.

He was dealt later that season to Atlanta in a six-player swap that netted the Giants future long-time starting corner infielder Darrel Evans.

Montanez enjoyed a nice two-year run with the Braves where he became an All -Star in 1977. Montanez saw significant playing time in the Mid-Summer Classic played at Yankees Stadium. As a mid-game replacement for starting first baseman Steve Garvey, Montanez batted 0-for-2.

Montanez also made career stops with the Mets, Rangers, Padres, Expos and Pirates before wrapping up his career back with Philadelphia in 1982.

For his career Montanez was a career .275 hitter, with 139 homers and 802 RBI.

Those are very good career home runs, but all any body seemed to remember was Willie’s on-field flavor and off-field blabber.

He Never Had a Bobblehead Day. But…

Philadelphia’s love affair with Montanez was on full display when the Giants visited Veterans Stadium shortly after his trade to San Francisco.

In an 8-6 loss to the Phils, (5/28/75) Willie batted 2-for-3. He was welcomed with several standing ovations and on two visits from the stands by fans showing true Brotherly Love.

Montanez appreciated the love fest.

“It was a great compliment,” said Willie of the fans who were whisked presumably to Veterans Stadium notorious in house bastille.

Through he would later claim to be dissatisfied with life as a Giant – joining fellow imported ingrate Bobby Murcer – Montanez played some of his best ball with San Francisco, batting .306, 10, 105 in 195 games.

It was near the end of his brief Giants engagement that Montanez enjoyed two near perfect consecutive games at the plate.

In back-to-back home wins over the visiting Astros (5/25-26/76) Montanez batted a composite 8-for-10, with four RBI and two runs scored.

In the first game, played on a Tuesday night before just 2,903 fans, Montanez collected two singles, a double and a game winning, 8th inning homer off Ken Forsch as Giants outlasted Houston 7-6.

The following afternoon, Montanez came back and skidded three more singles off the school yard hard ‘Stick turf and hammered a double while collecting two more RBI behind the pitching of Jim Barr and Randy Moffitt in a 11-4 bulldozing of Houston.

This time there were 3,115 paid to see Montanez batting exhibition.

The win capped a four game winning streak for the last place Giants.

But despite hitting the cover off the ball, hustling as if his life depended on running out ground balls and of course putting on a sideshow with his Frisco Frank schtick, Montanez wasn’t having any of the ‘Stick’s creature feature comforts.

“My family is still far away in Puerto Rico and the wind is going to be cold here when we get back,” said Montanez after the second game as the club prepared to depart for an eight game road trip.

He continued to fill up reporter’s notebooks as if he were a tele-type service. “I don’t want to be traded just to be traded. I want to go to a club that’s in the race, and to a place where it’s warmer and nearer my family,” he blathered.

You are probably now realizing why Montanez moved around so frequently in his career.

He wasn’t exactly easy to please.

Three weeks later, Montanez got his wish and was shipped about as close to Puerto Rico and still be in the big leagues at the time… Atlanta.

No word if his family were pleased however.

Giant Footprint

The Giants didn’t have many positive national headline grabbing events in the mid-1970s, but Montanez played a role in a couple of them.

The Giants recorded their first no-hitter in eight seasons in 1975, when Ed Halicki dominated the feckless Mets 6-0 in the second game of a double header (8/24/75) at Candlestick Park.

Montanez batted 2-for-4 with two RBI in the historic victory, but more importantly he finished played outstanding defense, making nine putouts on the day.

A year later Montanez found himself on the other end of a Giants no-hitter when John Montefusco capped a brilliant sophomore campaign with dazzled the Braves on the road with a brilliant 9-0 no hit, no run game (9/29/76).

Montanez, the Braves starting first baseman that night, batted 0-for-3.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: The Oakland to Las Vegas Shuttle

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Artists rendition of the inside of a retractable roofed Las Vegas Oakland A’s stadium as A’s vice president David Kaval and A’s front office staff returned from a visit to Vegas finalizing sites for the A’s in event they don’t get the Howard Terminal project (Artist rendition image from bleedcubbieblue.com)

The Oakland To Las Vegas Shuttle

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–Dave Kaval, President of the Oakland A’s was in Las Vegas last week for meeting with area landowners. The A’s down to two possible locations, and Kaval said the hopes of announcing a final site soon. 

Steve Hill, CEO and President of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority said that although a room tax is off the table, there are other means that could benefit the A’s if the team relocates to Las Vegas. Public assistance could be made available to help lure the team to Sin City.

Mr.Kaval has been made aware as he met with Mr.Hill, but the A’s, they do not want to negotiate in public.   Earlier this month, the A’s had a list of five possible ballpark sites, so the elimination of three indicates the process could wrap up soon.

What’s new for Las Vegas -The possibility of public assistance made available is important since throughout the year most state and local politicians seem to oppose using public money to help fund the A’s ballpark. But know, a change of strategy.

On deck- June 30 a key vote by the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission which would allow the project to proceed. If this vote doesn’t get the approval, Oakland is basically out of gas. If it gets a positive vote, the next step is for the city of Oakland to come to terms with the Oakland A’s on a development agreement.

How about the lawsuits?  On April 4, 2022. Three separate lawsuits were filed in Alameda County Superior Court by Union Pacific Railroad, The Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority and a coalition that includes the East Oakland Stadium Alliance, Pacific Merchant Shipping Association, Harbor Trucking Association, California Trucking Association, metal-shredding company Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc., and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union.  The City of Oakland and the Oakland A’s are listed as defendants.

California State law: Under AB 734 which was authored by former Assemblyman Rob Bonta, who is now the state attorney general, any lawsuits challenging the environmental impact report would have to be decided within 270 days of the report getting approved.

That puts the court process on a timeline of nine months from now, or January 2023.

Meanwhile, the Oakland to Las Vegas Shuttle continues…

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

Mets Wallop Giants: Losing skid grows to five games in 13-3 loss

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Gabe Kapler chose to remain positive in the face of the Giants’ four-game losing skid and mounting personnel issues.

But then the Giants did little to change the narrative Monday night, falling to the visiting Mets 13-3.

What’s clear? The Giants are further off their desired A game than anyone indicated, and given their difficult schedule a quick turnaround might not be possible. Their immediate goal may not be desirable, but avoiding an 0-6 homestand is foremost right now. That, and staying positive.

Starter Alex Cobb kept it positive, which wasn’t easy after he got burned for six runs and ten hits, some of which were downright frustrating in that they came on softly hit balls that could have easily been outs. Still Cobb departed after six innings trailing 6-2.

“All we really have to focus on is executing pitches, and then the results happen,” Cobb said. “I felt like I was executing some pitches tonight, and the results weren’t quite there.”

Cobb couldn’t quibble over Pete Alonso’s two-out, three-run homer in the third that put the Mets in the driver’s seat up 5-2. But other than that his pitches were fairly effective.

The Giants did strike first when Brandon Crawford homered in the second with Evan Longoria aboard. But they wouldn’t score again until the ninth on Tommy La Stella’s RBI single. In between those two occasions, the Giants went 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position spoiling any push for a comeback.

The Giants have been outscored 33-12 in their last four games illustrating how little has gone right. But a deeper disappointment maybe their overall performance against winning clubs. The team has dropped 14 of 21 to teams with winning records.

“There are some challenges right now. We’re not making as many plays as we can,” manager Gabe Kapler said.

On Tuesday, former Athletic Chris Bassitt pitches for the Mets in a match-up with San Francisco ace Logan Webb, seeking his sixth win of the season.

Three long balls propel Mariners to a 7-6 win over A’s to open series in Seattle

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The Seattle Mariners Julio Rodriquez slugs a fifth inning single against the Oakland A’s at T Mobile Park in Seattle on Mon May 23, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Seattle Mariners welcomed the Oakland A’s to T-Mobile Park Monday night for three games. The Mariners dominated Oakland last year as they won 15 of the 19 games. Seattle continued their dominance as they won their 13th consecutive game over the A’s 7-6. 

The Mariners used the long ball to earn the victory. A’s starter, lefty Zach Logue, gave up three big flys to the M’s. Seattle’s centerfielder, Julio Rodriguez, blasted a three-run shot in the bottom of the third to give the M’s an early 3-0 advantage.

The A’s rallied to tie the game in the top of the fourth. Chad Pinder hit a solo homer to make it 3-1. With one out, catcher Sean Murphy doubled. First baseman Christian Bethancourt singled to send Murphy to third.

Kevin Smith followed with a sacrifice fly to center to drive in Murphy with the A’s second run. Bethancourt advanced to third when Elvis Andrus singled. Tony Kemp followed with a single to drive in Bethancourt with the inning’s third run.

The tie didn’t last long as Seattle put two more on the board in their half of the fourth. With one out, A’s starter Zach Logue walked Luis Torrens. Logue then served up a gopher ball to the M’s catcher Cal Raleigh to make it a 5-3 game.

The Mariners increased the lead to 7-3 in the bottom of the fifth. Again, with one out, Logue walked Julio Rodriguez. The next hitter, Eugenio Suarez, took Logue deep. A’s manager removed Logue from the game. Domingo Acevedo came in from the bullpen and retired the next two hitters.

The A’s sent nine men to the plate in the top of the sixth. The A’s had four hits in the frame, and three men scored. The big hit was a double off the bat of rookie Cristian Pache. The A’s trail 7-6.

There was no more scoring in the game. The A’s relievers, A.J.Puk, Lou Trivino, and Sam Moll, kept the M’s bats quiet. The M’s bullpen did their job, too. The A’s bats went to sleep after the sixth as they wound up losing 7-6 to Seattle.

Game Notes: With the loss, the A’s are now 17-27, ten games under .500. The Mariners improved to 18-25. 

The A’s have now lost 13 consecutive games to the Mariners. They hope to get back on the winning track Tuesday night. 

The time of the game was 3:24. There were 14, 415 fans in the park to watch the M’s take down the A’s. Starting pitchers on Tuesday night at T Mobile Field in Seattle for the A’s James Kaprielian (0-2 ERA 4.50) and for the Seattle Mariners George Kirby (0-1, 3.60) a 6:40 pm PDT first pitch.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: White Sox surprised Yanks Donaldson got just a one day suspension; Cardinals Molina out for bereavement after pitching Sunday

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New York Yankees Josh Donaldson (left) and manager Aaron Boone (right) talk during the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Guarantee Rate Field in Chicago on Sun May 22, 2022 (AP News)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 MLB suspended New York Yankees Josh Donaldson one game for making a Jackie Robinson reference to Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson on Saturday. Donaldson after the game in New York made the Jackie Robinson reference and said he meant no disrespect but White Sox pitching coach Ethan Katz was surprised that he only got one day.

#2 The Jackie Robinson reference was an undertone a dog whistle to Anderson who is black and Donaldson is white player. Donaldson said that he was joking around in the past with Anderson about the Robinson reference when Anderson said he feels like today’s Jackie Robinson.

#3 Amaury, Sunday the St Louis Cardinals pitcher Yadier Molina who pitched in relief giving up two home runs and four runs after the Cardinals swept the Pittsburgh Pirates in four games at PNC Park. The Cardinals have placed Molina on the bereavement list the reason for the bereavement was not disclosed.

#4 The San Francisco Giants are coming off losing a three game sweep against the San Diego Padres at Oracle Park. The Giants also lost first baseman Brandon Belt to the 10 day IL for an inflamed right knee. Giants manager Gabe Kapler said the team is still in good shape.

#5 The Oakland A’s have lost seven of their last ten games and have lost two of three to the Los Angeles Angels over the weekend including Sunday’s 4-1 loss. A’s pitcher Cole Irvin lost the contest and the A’s are not getting any run support.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead Spanish play by play announcer for the Oakland A’s on flagship station Le Grande KIQI 1010 San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Baseball Do you enjoy position players pitching?

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St Louis Cardinal pitcher Yadier Molina is not too thrilled after giving up a two run ninth inning home run at PNC Park on Sun May 22, 2022 to the Pittsburgh Pirates Jack Suwinski. Molina is one of two position players to have pitched this season for the Cardinals (AP News photo)

Baseball: Do you enjoy Position players Pitching?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Today it has become more common to see a position player pitching at the end of a game with a lopsided score. Because it is now more common and it has lost a lot of the “fun” that it used to be. And the more it happens in the future, the more it would mean “not much”.

Unless those are Hall of Fame players, such guys as Albert Pujols and his good friend Yadier Molina, both in St Louis, they are first vote Hall of Famers in the future and those are guys that have done everything in baseball, except pitch, until recently.

During the Phillies 2018 Spring Training, manager Gabe Kapler experimented with his utility players throw occasional bullpen sessions. The purpose of this was to use them in game situations. It was not meant to be as a “joke” or fun if your team was winning or losing by 15 runs in the ninth inning. Kapler’s experiment was just that, an experiment.

Gabe Kapler, (now managing the Giants) used outfielder Luis González to pitch against the San Diego Padres on Sunday at Oracle Park, when the game was 10-1 in favor of the Padres, who swept the Giants. González did a great job as he pitched for 2 innings gave up 1 hit and no runs, his ERA 0.00

The first 40-40 man in history, José Canseco came to pitch for the Texas Rangers against the Boston Red Sox on May 29, 1993. He pitched one inning (the 8th) gave up 2 hits 3 earned runs, walked three and his earned run average ended at 27.00.

Canseco injured his arm and underwent Tommy John surgery to end his season. José had said in the past his dream was to pitch during a major league game. Was that fun José? By-the way, just three days prior to his pitching debut and retirement, on May 26, his head produced a home run, as he was playing right field when a batted ball hit his head and went over the fence.

That also was not a lot of fun for José, but he took it in stride after all there is no Tommy John surgery for your head. José Canseco played for another 10 years and retired after the 2001 season. He played for 17 years in the major leagues as an Outfielder-Designated Hitter and…Pitcher.

In conclusion. Using a position player to pitch, in any situation is like ordering Babe Ruth to lay a bunt. However, Ruth had a sacrifice bunt every year between 1915 and 1930. From 1922 to 1930 The Bambino hit 403 homeruns and also laid down 33 sacrifice bunts.

However, Ruth also won 65 games as a pitcher. In my book, I like to see a super star like Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina to pitch in a game that is already decided, but I will not enjoy an average player taking the ball, unless his team has totally ran out of pitchers.

But that is only my opinion, I am sure many would disagree. One thing we could all agree is that today, their is only one Shohei “Showtime”) Ohtani, he can really hit and really pitch, with the best of them.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish radio voice for the Oakland A’s on flagship station Le Grande 1010 KIQI San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Giants can’t stop Padres Machado; SF’s Gonzalez comes in from leftfield to relieve; Giants meet the Mets tonight at Oracle

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The San Diego Padres Manny Machado (left) greets Jake Cronenworth (right) after scoring on the San Francisco Giants in the top of the fourth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 Morris, the San Diego Padres (22-14) Manny Machado was being Manny again three doubles and a triple he had an MVP type game lending to the Padres 10-1 laugher and series sweep on Sunday against the San Francisco Giants (22-18).

#2 For Machado it was a career high and tied the Padres all time record for extra base hits in a ball game Machado also picked up two RBIs. Becoming the eighth Padre to accomplish four extra base hits in a game.

#3 The Padres improve their record to four games over .500 and Machado said after the game that San Diego is a good ball club and said that if things continue this way things will fall into place.

#4 The Giants brought in relief pitcher Luis Gonzalez who had been playing in rightfield. Gonzalez who pitched against the Padres in the top of the seventh got the side in order and came out again in the top of the eight giving up a hit but again got out of the inning unscathed after two a 80 plus MPH change up and mostly 48 MPH lob balls that kept the hitters off balance.

#5 The New York Mets (28-15) who are one of baseball’s hottest teams come to Oracle Park to open a three game series with the Giants on Monday night. Starting pitcher for the Mets lefthander David Peterson (1-0, 1.89) Peterson will be opposed by Giant starter Alex Cobb (3-1, 5.61) a 6:45 pm PDT first pitch.

Join Morris for the Giants podcast each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

One Run Or Fewer: A’s offense continues to struggle in 4-1 loss at Anaheim

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By Morris Phillips

Look at the A’s schedule: they haven’t seen much AL West competition thus far, and with those teams that know them best up now, the obvious conclusion is that things could get worse.

Things got worse this weekend in Anaheim. For that, the A’s can point to Patrick Sandoval and Shohei Ohtani. We’ll call them the usual suspects.

Ohtani homered–as did Mike Trout–and the Angels cruised to a 4-1 win over the A’s as Sandoval deftly managed his effective offerings to reach the eighth inning. If the score and result looks familiar, it’s because it is. Last Sunday in Oakland, Sandoval cruised, and Ohtani homered in the first inning in the A’s 4-1 loss. This first round of AL West rival action clearly goes to Anaheim, winners of five of the first seven of 19 contests between the clubs.

The toothless A’s have dropped 20 of 29 after an encouraging 8-6 start to the season. And Sunday marked the 16th time the team has scored one run or fewer (1-15 in those games). Against Sandoval, the A’s managed three singles and Kevin Smith’s eighth inning double. Christian Pache, mired in a 1 for 23 stretch, knocked in Smith for the A’s only run.

“For my money, when he has fastball command, he should normally be pitching in the seventh, eighth, ninth inning,” manager Joe Maddon said of Sandoval. “The way his stuff is, they don’t get good swings at it. Don’t get good looks at it.”

Sandoval’s brilliance allowed the Angels’ bats to be patient with A’s starter Cole Irvin, who was returning from a stint on the injured list. The Angels got single runs in the first, second and fifth against Irvin. Trout homered off Justin Grimm in the seventh, a laser inside the left field foul pole.

The A’s are 2-5 in a stretch of games against divisional opponents that continues through June 1. Seattle is next, then Texas and Houston. The A’s will have to pick up their offense to compete. But their gutty starters have faltered as of late too. Irvin’s loss on Sunday drops the Oakland starters to 0-6 over the last 10 games.

But the issues don’t stop there: seven A’s errors over the last nine games have the defense showing wear. Thirty errors in 43 games ranks the team near the bottom of the American League.

On Monday, the A’s open a three-game set against the Mariners in Seattle with Zach Logue facing Marco Gonzales.