Category: MLB

Giants Good Again in 2022, Just Not In the Manner They Were Good in 2021

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by Morris Phillips

Expanded playoffs, universal designated hitters, shrinking batting averages and greater reliance on relief pitchers. Seemingly, all of baseball’s newest machinations favor the Giants and their preferred methods of competing.

Currently the Giants are bundled with three other NL clubs (Dodgers, Mets, Brewers) at the top of the standings in the first season in which six teams will qualify for postseason play in both leagues. No more roll of the dice in a Wild Card game means no one goes home after an initial, bad playoff game. When you’ve got a great shot to be in, it’s even better if you can’t all of a sudden be out.

Throughout baseball, batting averages are down, as is scoring. Trying to buck that trend are the Giants with their .248 team batting average, well above the .235 number that this season is considered average among the 30 teams. The Giants also are averaging 5.11 runs per game, which trails only the Dodgers. But those key metrics don’t mean that individual sluggers on the team haven’t had their struggles. Benefitting the Giants of course, is their philosophy to seek game-altering extra-base hits and homers at the expense of on-base percentage and playing the old-school, station-to-station game.

Given that, the Giants still draw their walks (ranking second with 144 free passes), utilize the sacrifice fly (they rank first with 20), and steal bases consistently, if not frequently with 21 steals and only six caught stealing situations. Those numbers weigh heavier given that the Giants aren’t a record-breaking, home run-hitting club this season with only 40 hit so far.

What they do is hit more than their opponent by a nice margin augmented by their league-low 26 home runs allowed. And when those home runs are hit, it’s usually in a close, low-scoring game. That combination, as it was in 2021, is a real weapon for the Giants: they win close games.

A major piece of that formula is the team’s bullpen which is currently loaded with standouts from closer Camilo Doval with seven saves to Taylor Rogers, John Brebbia and Jarlin Garcia as the key, setup options. With so many returners from last season in the team’s bullpen, comparisons are easy. And so far, this year’s group’s been that much better than last’s.

The Giants have won 8 of 11 leading into Friday night’s meeting with the Padres. In the coming weeks the Giants will see the Padres, Mets and the Dodgers, teams they need to measure themselves against in preparation for a possible, postseason appearance.

On Friday, Jakob Junis gets the starting nod in a matchup with San Diego’s Sean Manaea.

Preview of A’s series with Los Angeles Angels starts Friday night at the Big A

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Every time the Los Angeles Angels win a game the halo shines on the Big A scoreboard in Anaheim. The visiting Oakland A’s will try and prevent that from happening on Fri May 20, 2022 as the A’s and Angels open a three game series. (file photo from Wikipedia)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s (16-24) are going to the Big A in Anaheim to face the Los Angeles Angels (24-16) for three games this weekend. The A’s and Angels have been opponents since 1961 when the Angels entered the American League as an expansion team.

The A’s were in Kansas City at that time, but since 1968, they have become intrastate rivals. There is a natural rivalry between the San Francisco Bay Area and the Los Angeles area. The two areas compete for economic as well as political power.

The sports teams also reflect the rivalry. The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants have been in California since both teams moved to California in 1958. The Dodger-Giant rivalry has been in existence since their days in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Since 1968, not including this year, the A’s and Angels have played 832 games.

The A’s own the advantage 450-382, a winning percentage of .541. The A’s have made the playoffs six times since 2012. The Angels’ only appearance in the same period was in 2014. They lost in the AL Divisional round.

Things have changed in 2022. The A’s are in a rebuild mode. The A’s have revamped their lineup. Matt Chapman, Matt Olson, Mark Canha, Sean Manaea, Chris Bassitt, Yusmeiro Petit, Starling Marte, Josh Harrison, and Yan Gomes are no longer with the club.

The A’s team batting average is one point below the Mendoza line. The team payroll is about 48 Million dollars, the second-lowest in Major League Baseball.

The A’s are 16-24 for the season. They are 6-14 at home and 10-10 on the road. The A’s are in fifth place in the AL West and trail the first-place Houston Astros by nine games.

The Angels are 24-16 and are just one game behind the Astros in the AL West. They are 12-7 at home and 12-9 on the road. The Angels have two MVPs on their roster. Their star centerfielder Mike Trout has won three MVPs so far in his career.

Shohei Ohtani won the MVP last year. Ohtani is a player that should be on every fan’s must-see list. Ohtani is hitting. 253 with eight home runs and 27 RBIs. He leads the team in that category. As a starting pitcher, Ohtani is 2-3 with an ERA of 2.81. Trout is hitting .320 with 11 dingers and 23 RBIs.

The Angels have other stellar performers in their lineup. Rightfielder Tayor Ward has been a surprise this season. Ward is hitting .375 with nine big flies and 23 knocked in. Third Baseman, Anthony Rendon, has hit five balls out of the park and has 21 ribbies.

Other key performers are first baseman Jared Walsh and left-fielder Brandon Marsh. Walsh is hitting .248, with eight home runs and 26 RBIs. Marsh has an average of .282 with four homers and 22 RBIs. If they hope to get into the win column this weekend, the A’s pitchers will have to be at the top of their game.

The A’s Seth Brown leads Oakland with 18 RBIs. The A’s feature young players like Cristian Pache, Kevin Smith, and Sean Murphy in their lineup. Their veterans include journeymen like Chad Pinder, Tony Kemp, Stephen Piscotty, Christian Bethancourt, and Seth Brown.

The A’s bullpen has been remade. There are lots of new names out there. Pitchers like Justin Grimm, Kirby Snead, Sam Moll, and Domingo Acevedo. Last year’s closer, Lou Trivino, has been replaced by Dany Jimenez. Trivino has to regain his confidence if he hopes to get back as the closer.

The A’s will not be facing Ohtani or Noah Syndergaard this weekend. The Angels will use Chase Silseth on Friday, Michael Lorenzen on Saturday, and Patrick Sandoval on Sunday. The A’s pitchers will be Paul Blackburn on Friday and Frankie Montas on Saturday. The A’s have not announced a starter for Sunday’s game.

The A’s would love to spoil the Angels’ weekend. They will have to grind out the wins if they can. It won’t be easy, but as they say in baseball, you never know what will happen.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants open three game series against Manaea and Padres Friday night at Oracle

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Colorado Rockies rookie catcher Brian Serven flies out in the bottom of the fifth inning at Coors Field against San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb on Wed May 18, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 Michael, talk about how disappointed San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb had to be retiring 16 straight Colorado Rockie batters after giving up two runs in the first inning in seven plus innings of work in a 5-3 final. Reliever Jose Alvarez allowed two runs in relief for the loss.

#2 The Rockies CJ Cron broke the 3-3 deadlock with a two run homer it was a monster shot 454 feet in the eighth inning and helped hand the Rockies their first win after losing 12 straight games to the Giants. What are some of the successes the Giants have over the Rockies and how big a role did the Cron home run have in changing the direction of the game.

#3 Michael what was the pitch that Alvarez to Cron for the home run and did it seem like Alvarez struggled or did the Rockies just see some good pitches to hit off him.

#4 Rockies rookie catcher Brian Serven on his first big league pitch fouled the ball behind home plate where his family was sitting. The ball was picked up by a fan and the Rockies communications department traded the ball for a signed Brendan Rogers signed ball and Serven’s parents Jim and Laura received the foul ball. For Serven that had to be a special at bat to foul one off and his parents get the ball back.

#5 The Giants have Thursday off and will host the San Diego Padres at Oracle Park on Friday night at 7:15pm PDT. The Padres will start LHP Sean Manaea (2-3 ERA 3.77) and he’ll be opposed by Giants RHP Jakob Junis (1-1 ERA 1.74). How do you see this match up Friday night?

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

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s have now lost 11 of last 13 games; Lack of hitting hurting run production

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The Oakland A’s hitter Kevin Smith (1) puts his all into this broken bat swing for a base hit against the visiting Minnesota Twins on getaway day at the Oakland Coliseum on Wed May 18, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 The Oakland A’s (16-24) lost by a landslide to the visiting Minnesota Twins (22-16) on Wednesday afternoon at the Oakland Coliseum 14-4 and the Twins Carlos Correa was seeing the ball well with two hits upon his return from the injured list from a bruised finger.

#2 Correa missed a large amount of games 11 in all while swinging the bat he was hit in the hand by a pitch.

#3 The A’s who have lost 11 of their last 13 games got RBI singles from Seth Brown and Christian Bethancourt. The A’s for the most part suffering in the run production department and have lost a number of those game because of a lack of hitting.

#4 A’s starter Daulton Jefferies went under an MRI after suffering bicep tightness. Jefferies pitched four innings and gave up six earned runs.

#5 The A’s open a three game series against the Los Angeles Angels at the Big A in Anaheim on Friday night. The A’s will start right hander Paul Blackburn (4-0 ERA 1.67) the Angels will start right hander Chase Silseth (1-0 ERA 0.00) first pitch 6:38 pm PDT

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

Giants, Webb run out of steam and blow their lead in a 5-3 loss to the Rockies

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By Morris Phillips

As often happens, the decision to lift an effective, but laboring starting pitcher can be agonizing.

The decision to remove Logan Webb in the eighth inning on Wednesday was a no-win for the Giants and manager Gabe Kapler. Literally.

Trailing 3-2 to the Giants, and facing the likelihood of a record, 13th consecutive loss to their division rivals, the host Rockies rallied with three runs to gain a critical 5-3 win.

Connor Joe drew a leadoff walk against Webb, ending his streak of 16 consecutive, retired hitters, and that opened the door for Colorado. With Webb at 100 pitches, Kapler decided to remove his starter for reliever Jose Alvarez.

“After the second, which I thought was the more challenging inning, (Webb) was as good as we saw last year,” Kapler said. “This is a very, very challenging place to pitch into the eighth inning. I thought it was one of the better performances in recent memory for Logan.”

It also wasn’t the spot to lean heavily on his ace, thought Kapler. This early in the season, and with an effective bullpen cast ready to go. A two-run lead also provided Alvarez, who hadn’t given up a home run in more than 56 innings of work, a nice cushion.

But Charlie Blackmon sacrificed Joe to second, Yonathan Daza followed with an RBI single and C.J. Cron gave the Rockies a two-run lead with his long home run off Alvarez.

“We’d done a nice job up until that point with Cron,” Kapler said. “He hasn’t taken his best swings against us, which I think is a positive for our pitching staff. It’s really tough to fall behind him. He then is able to sit on a pitch like he did right there, and look, he’s one of the better right-handed hitters in baseball.”

Tyler Kinley retired the Giants in the eighth, and Daniel Bard recovered from a blown save on Monday to get the visitors out in the ninth, ending an agonizing slide for the Rockies, who were also trying to avoid a fourth straight loss overall.

The Giants concluded their road swing with a 3-3 record through Denver and St. Louis. They open a homestand on Friday night against the Padres.

Mike Yastrzemski had an RBI single on Wednesday and Austin Slater and Darin Ruf contributed run scoring, sacrifice flies. Ruf put the Giants in front in the fourth, and Webb cruised into the eighth. But it wasn’t enough to earn the Giants a sweep.

Sean Manaea gets the start for San Diego on Friday, and Jakob Junis goes for the Giants as they continue to utilize a bullpen strategy in the absence of injured starter Anthony DeSclafani.

Twins rout A’s 14-4 win three-game series two games to one at Coliseum

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The expression on the Chevron car on the Oakland Coliseum padded outfield wall kind of says it all about Wed May 18, 2022 game as Oakland A’s leftfielder Chad Pinder (10) can’t get a glove on the Minnesota Twins Luis Arraez’ double in the fourth inning. (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND–The Minnesota Twins (22-16) pummeled the Oakland A’s (16-24) to take two out of three from the A’s. Oakland’s starter Daulton Jefferies (1-7 ERA 5.72) gave up six runs in four innings of work.

A’s pitchers issued ten walks. The Twins strolled to an easy 14-4 win over Oakland. There were 26 hits in the game, and not one left the park.

The Twins got off to a hot start in the finale of the three-game set with the A’s. With one out, Twins’ first baseman Luis Arreaz single. Fresh off the 10-day IL, the next hitter Carlos Correa singled, sending Arreaz to third.

Jefferies struck out Jorge Polanco for the second out. Jefferies walked Max Kepler to load the bases. Jefferies now had the task of pitching to the power-hitting DH, Gary Sanchez. Sanchez worked the count 3-2.

With the runners going on the pitch, Sanchez blooped a broken-bat single onto a short leftfield to drive in Kepler with the Twins’ third run. The A’s, facing their former teammate Sonny Gray put one on the board in the bottom of the first.

With two out, Ramon Laureano doubled. First baseman Seth Brown singled to drive in Laureano with the A’s first run. The Twins led 3-1 after one inning of play.

The Twins added to their lead in the top of the third. With one out, Jefferies walked Jorge Polanco. Jefferies retired Kepler for the second out. The next hitter, Gary Sanchez, blasted a double to deep right-center-field to drive in Polanco.

The Twins lead 4-1 midway through the third. The A’s rallied in their half of the third to make it a 4-2 game. With two out, Seth Brown ripped a ball down the right-field line that went for a triple. The next batter, A’s catcher Christian Bethancourt, singled to drive in Brown.

The Twins continued to make life miserable for Jefferies. With two out in the top of the fourth, Jefferies walked Byron Buxton. Luis Arreaz, a left-handed-hitter, blasted a ball that went over A’s left fielder Chad Pinder’s head for a double to drive in Buxton with the Twins’ fifth run.

The onslaught didn’t end. Twins’ shortstop Carlos Correa doubled to drive in Arreaz. The score is now 6-2. A’s manager Mark Kotsay sent the word to the bullpen to get someone to get ready to relieve Jefferies.

A’s reliever Justin Grimm pitched a scoreless fifth. It wasn’t easy as the Twins had the bases loaded with one out. The A’s nailed the runner at home for the second out. Grimm got the final out 1-2 to end the inning.

The Twins broke the game open when they sent nine to the plate in the top of the sixth. Lefty Kirby Snead was on the hill for Oakland. Snead contributed to his downfall by walking the first two batters he faced. Snead gave up three hits and three walks that allowed the Twins to score five times. The Twinkies lead 11-2 midway through six.

Oakland added a run in the bottom of the seventh. Two singles and a player hit by a pitch loaded the bases with no out. Tony Kemp’s sacrifice fly to left drove in the A’s third run. The Twins are in the driver’s seat 11-3 after seven.

With two out in the eighth, Chad Pinder doubled off the wall in right field. Luis Barrera, playing right-field for the A’s, singled for the third time to drive in Ponder. The A’s trail 11-4.

Chad Pinder is on the mound to pitch the ninth for Oakland. It did not go well for Pinder and the A’s. Pinder walked three and gave up a single and double, and the Twins plated three more runs to own a 14-4 advantage as the A’s are batting for the last time. The A’s failed to score in the ninth. The Twins win 14-4.

Game Notes- The A’s fall to 16-24 for the year. The A’s have played about 25% of the season. If the A’s continue on this pace, they will win about 65 or 66 games this year. The Twins are now 22-16 and are first in the AL Central Division. The A’s reside in the AL West cellar.

Daulton Jefferies was the losing pitcher. His record is now 1-7. Former A’s pitcher Gray picked up the win. He is now 1-1.

The A’s line was four runs, 12 hits, and one error. The hitting star for Oakland was Luis Barrera with three hits. Seth Brown had a single and a triple. Kevin Smith added two hits.

The Twins line was 14 runs, 14 hits, and one error. They benefited from ten walks issued by the A’s. Eight of those who walked scored.

The A’s are off on Thursday. They meet the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim for three games this weekend. For Friday night’s tilt, Righty Paul Blackburn (4-0, ERA 1.67) will go for Oakland. The Angels’ Chase Silseth will oppose him. Silseth is 1-0, with a 0.00 ERA. First pitch at 6:38 pm PT.

The time of the game was 3:25. 7,106 fans watched the A’s get trounced at the Coliseum.

Giants win 10-7 Coors Field slugfest over Rockies

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San Francisco Giants hitter Tommy La Stella takes Colorado Rockies pitcher Chad Kuhl deep in the first inning at Coors Field in Denver on Tue May 17, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Tuesday, May 17, 2022

Tommy La Stella made his return to the San Francisco starting lineup a memorable one on Tuesday, as the Giants held on for a 10-7 win over Colorado in Denver.

The wild 3-hour, 40-minute win was the Giants’ 12th straight over an opponent, going back to last season. This streak equals the team’s longest winning streak over an opponent since the New York Giants defeated Philadelphia 12 consecutive times in 1945 and 1946.

Eight of the Giants’ 12 wins against Colorado have been at Coors Field.

La Stella, who was on the injured list with an Achilles injury, opened the game with a 464-foot home run to right off Rockies starter Chad Kuhl to lead off the game. It was La Stella’s sixth career leadoff home run – his fourth as a Giant.

The Giants’ bats didn’t stop there. In the second, Brandon Crawford tripled and scored on a throwing error. In the top o the third, Mike Yastrzemski hit a two-run double, and Darin Ruf and Thairo Estrada added RBI singles. In the top of the fourth, Ruf struck again with a two-run double.

Run-scoring singles by Crawford and Estrada in the sixth made it 10-2 in favor of the Giants.
San Francisco’s 10-2 lead after 5½ innings began to evaporate in the bottom of the sixth, when the Rockies scored five times.

After C.J. Cron and Ryan McMahon delivered RBI singles, Randal Grichuk capped the rally with a three-run homer to left, pulling the Rox to within 10-7.

Despite being responsible for all seven of Colorado’s runs, Alex Cobb (3-1) picked up the win, despite giving up 10 hits and a walk. The Giants’ bullpen delivered 3 2/3 shutout innings to preserve the win.

John Brebbia, Tyler Rogers and Dominic Leone shut down Colorado on a collective two hits, and Camilo Doval struck out one and walked two in a scoreless ninth to earn his seventh save.
Kuhl (3-2) gave up six runs – five of them earned – in three innings.

La Stella and Crawford were 3-for-5 as the Giants collected 14 hits. Cron was 3-for-5 to lead the Rockies’ 12-hit attack.

The Giants and Rockes wrap up their three-game set on Wednesday afternoon. Logan Webb (5-1, 3.48) starts for San Francisco, facing Colorado starter Kyle Freeland (1-4, 4.91). First pitch is at 11:10 PDT.

A’s finally swinging again Smith gets two run blast and Murphy with two run RBI in 5-2 win over Twins

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Oakland A’s hitter Sean Murphy swings for a two RBI single in the bottom of the seventh against the Minnesota Twins as Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers watches at the Oakland Coliseum on Tue May 17, 2022 (AP News photo)

Minnesota. 2. 7. 0

Oakland. 5 11. 1

Tuesday May 27, 2022

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–In spite of my generally cynical nature, I try to find something consoling about any situation. So I was somewhat gratified to read in today´s Oakland A’s (16-23) game notes that Oakland doesn’t have the worst record in the American League. The A’s picked up their 16th win of the season and got some timely hits to defeat the Minnesota Twins (21-16) at the Oakland Coliseum 5-2 on Tuesday night.

There are members of the junior circuit beneath them in the standings, the Orioles; the Royals; and the Tigers. not to mention the four National League teams with records worse than the 15-23 the green and gold brought to Tuesday’s game.

James Kaprieian, two weeks off of the injured list and with an 0-2, 4.97 record to show for the three appearances he made since his return, took the mound for Oakland.

In each of those starts he did better than in the previous one (excepting the first, of course). In fact he had an ERA of 2.53in the 10-2/3 innings he pitched in his second and third starts.

His opposite number for Minnesota, fresh off the Covid 19 list, Dylan Bundy, began his monticular labors with a lifetime record of 49-59, 4.75, unimpressive but better than his season’s mark of 3-2,5.76.

He has five tools in his bag of tricks, a four seamer that he throws about 35% of the time and at an unintimidating speed of about 89 mph; a slider that he utilizes another 23% or so; a changeup; a sinker; and an Uncle Charley.

Game recap: The teams traded zeroes for 3-1/2 innings, during which Bundy threw 54 pitches, 35 of which were counted as strikes. He surrendered two hits, both of them singles, one a bunt by Tony Kemp, and no walks. He struck out one.

Josh Winder started the fourth and allowed a one out double to Elvis Andrus that might have been another single if the Twins’ right fielder, Max Kepler, hadn’t tried to make a diving catch of it. Kevin Smith made that a moot question by blasting a 93 mph four seamer 395 feet deep over the left field fence, giving Kaprielian a two run lead to work with when he came out for the fifth.

Three pitches later, it was a one run lead. Royce Lewis lifted a 94 mph fastball to deep left field. Luis Barera looked ready to catch it, but the ball disappeared 382 deep into the nearly empty stands. (The attendance was 3,640).

Oakland threatened in their half of the fifth, loading the bases on singles by Jed Lowrie and Seth Brown and a walk to Andrus, but Barrera flew out to right, and the score remained 2-1.

There was no question about Gary Sánchez´s game toying round tripper to left with one down in the Minnesota sixth. It was his fourth of the year and travelled 387 feet into the left field seats. It came on Kaprielien’s 89th and final pitch of the game.

He left, having thrown 5-1/3 frames, allowing two runs, both earned, on four hits and a walk. 64 of his offerings were deemed strikes. Sam Moll relieved him and, in spite of a broken bat single by Kepler, an infield single by Gilberto Celestino, and Moll’s throwing error on Celestino’s single, preserved the tie.

The green and gold retook the lead after the seventh inning stretch. Lowrie walked. Christian Bethancourt ran for him, moving to second when Winder plugged Laureano with a 91 mph fastball.

Then Brown whacked a changeup to the bottom of the right field wall, driving in Bethancourt and sending Laureano to third. Murphy’s sharp single to center plated both runners, but the A’s catcher quickly was eliminated when Andrus grounded into a 6-4-3 Twin killing.

The Oakland attack continued; Barrera and Smith each singled to left, putting runners on the corners when Caleb Thiebar relieved the beleaguered Winder, who had given up five earned runs in his 3-2/3 inning stint and ended up being charged with the loss, his second in four decisions.

Oakland’s newfound 5-2 advantage was endangered in the top of the eighth. Jackson got Sánchez to fly out to right but walked Kepler on a full count and gave up a single to Garlich.

Enter Dany Jiménez, who induced a fly to center from hitter Gilberto Celestino and a ground out to short from Lewis. Jiménez stuck around for the ninth to gain the save, his seventh in as many opportunities.

Those of you who want a reminder of the A’s glory days could do worse than visit the roomy Coliseum, where, at 12:37 Wednesday afternoon, Sonny Gray (0-1,3.68) will start for the Twin Cities team, facing the A’s Daulton Jefferies (1-6, 4.84)

The A’s should retire Campaneris number 19

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Former Oakland A’s shortstop Bert Campaneris is regarded as the best shortstop in Oakland A’s history winner of three consecutive World Series Championships. Campaneris is seen here seated for a 2012 photo (photo from wikipedia)

The A’s Should Retire Campaneris Number 19

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–Baseball is a generational sport. People grow-up watching their favorite players, they are engraved in their collective memories forever. It is passed from one generation to the next one.

Many times during The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame exhibits at Fanfest, All-Star Games, community and other events I have seen fathers telling their kids (as they watch an exhibit) “Billy, this was Minnie Miñoso, my favorite player as a kid”.

Players numbers are retired by teams to honor their past stars.Teams are proud to retire their legends numbers, not to mention it is also a smart marketing tool to sell more jerseys and merchandise for people to wear and use. It is a win-win situation for everybody.

On September 11 when the A’s host the Chicago White Sox, the Oakland A’s fans in attendance will receive a replica of #34 Dave Stewart’s number which will be officially retired by the team. Stewart is one of the A’s legends. As a great pitcher Dave Stewart was the heart and soul of the Oakland Community, specially during the 1989 World Series during the Loma Prieta earthquake.

One of the last pitchers in baseball to have four consecutive 20 game winning seasons, his famous “Death Stare” in the mound when he was pitching is remembered forever in the memories of A’s fans, as well as those hitters who faced him.

Another great Oakland A’s player is Cuban-born shortstop Dagoberto Blanco (Campy) Campaneris. Campy is the only Latino shortstop in history to have been a shortstop for three-consecutive World Series champion. The 1972-73-74 Oakland A’s. Campy will be in attendance as the A’s celebrate their 1972 World Series Champion team reunion on Saturday June 4 at the Oakland Coliseum.

Campy (now living in Arizona) is a shy and humble man who as the A’s lead-off hitter was the spark plug for those great championship teams of the early 1970’s. Many times I have spoken with Campy he has always cherished those great memories.

He is a baseball man to his core, his stories about the game are priceless. He still represents the Oakland A’s and is happy to sign autographs for fans when the A’s conduct their Spring Training camp in Arizona.

A few years ago I was called by CH 2 FOX to translate for Campy for an exclusive interview done by Mark Ibañez their sports anchor during Spring Training. Campy is so humble he told me “¿por qué quieren hablar conmigo?” trans- ‘why do they want to talk to me?”.

Reggie Jackson became a star with the Oakland A’s, and a mega star once he won two World Series championships and earned the nickname “Mr. October,” with the New York Yankees. Reggie said that those Yankee teams were inferior to the Oakland A’s teams that won back-to-back-to back championships in the 1970s with Jackson as its megastar, according to the man himself. Reggie (whose number 9 is retired by the A’s) always talks fondly about Campy Campaneris, “The Road Runner”, the man that ignited that great lineup.

Around 30 to 33 percent of all players in today’s game are Hispanic. The Oakland A’s always enjoyed very loyal Hispanic fans in the Bay Area and across the country and those that remember Campy will tell you he was an integral part of the “Swinging A’s” during his playing days.

I hope the Oakland Athletics consider the retirement of Campy Campaneris number 19. To this day, the A’s have not retired a number from one of their Latino players and I cannot think of a better person than Dagoberto Blanco (Campy) Campaneris. In the past I have suggested to A’s upper management the importance of retiring Campy Campaneris number 19. I hope in the near future they will. It is time.

These are the numbers retired to date by the Oakland A’s:

34 Rickey Henderson, 43 Dennis Eckersley, 9 Reggie Jackson, 27 Jim “Catfish” Hunter, 34 Rollie Fingers and Walter A. Haas, Jr, Owner.

Dagoberto “Blanco” Campaneris is in The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame.

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

Yaz Strikes Late: Big home run in the ninth gets Giants past the Rockies, 7-6

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By Morris Phillips

Game deciding home runs look great and feel even better. Ask Mike Yastrzemski.

That felt really good,” said Yastrzemski of his ninth inning blast that broke a 6-6 tie in Denver on Monday night. “Just really trying to get a pitch to drive and elevate, and I got one.”

The Giants had an awful weekend in St. Louis, losing Saturday and Sunday without putting forth much resistance. The Rockies had an awful week, bringing their fast start to the season to a grinding halt. On Monday, both teams were desperate to change their storylines.

For the Rockies to be the club to rebound closer Daniel Bard would have needed a better executed pitch against Yastrzemski. It wasn’t and Bard was saddled with a blown save for the second, straight day after allowing two late runs to the Royals on Sunday.

“It was a breaking ball, probably middle-in, and probably not down enough,” Black said. “It looked to be middle-down, on the inside part of the plate and he kind of golfed it.”

Golf or baseball, Yaz looked good rounding the bases, part of his personal resurgence after he was infrequently in the lineup in last year’s postseason.

Neither starting pitcher lasted long on Monday, and the Rockies’ Antonio Senzatela departed with an injury in the second inning. Alex Wood didn’t survive a rough, fifth inning that saw the Rockies cut into the Giants 4-1 lead. That stuff happens at Coors Field, leaving the game decision up to both bullpen and whatever hitters can supply late-game dramatics. Yastrzemski, preceded by Curt Casali, who homered twice in the game, were the guys for San Francisco.

Casali homered in the third and the fifth innings to give the Giants their 4-1 lead. It marked just the third multi-homer game of his career that’s been built on catching and defense.

“It’s one of those stretches where I just feel good at the plate right now,” Casali said. “I work hard on defense, and that’s always a constant for me, and sprinkle in some offense here and there. It’s nice to drive in some runs and score some runs. It’s fun, that’s all I can say.”

John Brebbia and Camilo Doval closed the door for the Giants in the eighth and ninth after Tyler Rogers allowed a pair of game-tying runs in the seventh.

Brandon Crawford and Brandon Belt had rough nights going hitless with a combined five strikeouts. Joc Pederson was 0 for 3 in the three spot in the batting order, and Tommy La Stella was hitless in his only at-bat before being lifted for a pinch-hitter. It was La Stella’s anticipated, season debut after injuries shelved him out of spring training.

Alex Cobb and Colorado’s Chad Kuhl are the announced starters for Tuesday’s game two of the three-game set.