Category: MLB

Houston Astros reliever Ryan Pressly (right) exchanges high fives after recording the last out against the Oakland A’s in the Astros 4-2 win of the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader at Minute Maid Field in Houston (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s took on the Houston Astros in a doubleheader Saturday afternoon. Yesterday’s game was scratched when both teams left the field in support of the fight for racial equality.

There have been at least 20 teams that had chosen not to play on Wednesday, Thursday and last night’s game between the A’s and the Astros. They join the NBA, WNBA, NHL, MLS and the NFL in this fight. With heavy hearts both teams took the field at Minute Maid Park for the first of two games.

The first inning was a good one for the Houston Astros getting on the board early when Kyle Tucker homered to right, for 366 feet, scoring Michael Brantley who had walked and Yuli Gurriel who had doubled to right giving the Astros the early lead 3-0. The A’s had a quick first inning with two strike outs, Piscotty and Grossman. Marcus Semien popped out.

Starting pitcher for the A’s was Chris Bassitt and for the Astros Lance McCullers Jr. An important series for Oakland; they were looking to extend their four and a half game lead on Houston in the standings.

The last thing they wanted to see was Houston gaining any ground on them. Giving up a 3-0 lead to start the game was the last thing that the A’s needed against a very tough team. Neither team could get a lot going through the next two innings. The A’s finally got on the scoreboard in the fourth inning when Robbie Grossman scored.

Grossman had doubled to right and Stephen Piscotty had singled. With runners on first and third, Chapman grounded out to right allowing Robbie Grossman to score and the A’s were on the board 3-1. The Astros answered right back with their first at bat in the bottom of the fourth inning. Josh Reddick homered to right for 413 feet extending their lead 4-1.

It was a quiet fifth inning for both teams going into the top of the sixth inning. The A’s were able to get another run up on the board by yet again Grossman. He was having a great game keeping his team in this one.

Grossman was safe at first on a throwing error by the pitcher and moved on to third on another error by the Astros. Matt Chapman singled allowing Grossman to score now trailing Houston 4-2. Through six innings the A’s had 6 hits and Houston had 8.

The A’s had one last chance in the seventh inning with only seven being played in the double header. It was a quick two outs for Oakland in the top of the seventh inning, Canha and Laureano. Kemp would ground out to first and that was the game. The Astros would now trail the A’s in the standings by three and a half games.

Both teams would have about an hour to regroup and get ready for game two. The first game had been a little over two hours. It wasn’t Bassitt’s finest hour. He had three innings in this game and obviously it was a tough first inning for him. “ He was just a little off,” said Bob Melvin of Chris’ performance. “Getting behind in the first and all of a sudden it’s 3-0. Lou came in and did a good job,” he said. The A’s would be looking for a chance to even the score in game two and reclaim their four and a half game lead in the standings.

On Jackie Robinson day at Minute Maid Field Fri Aug 28th stands Houston Astros catcher Martin Maldonado, on home plate a Black Lives Matter t shirt with the Oakland A’s and Houston Astros #42 jerseys honoring Jackie Robinson. Soon after honoring Robinson the A’s and Astros walked off the field in recognition of shooting victim Jacob Blake and racial injustice in America (photo from the Houston Chronicle)

On the A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1  In a statement by the A’s they made it very clear before their cancelled game in Houston that Oakland is a diverse community and that in recognition of Black Lives Matter, shooting victim Jacob Blake, and racial injustice in America the A’s and Astros postponed Friday night’s game at Minute Maid Field.

#2 The A’s and Rangers were about to cancel their game on Wednesday but were able to cancel their game on Thursday. A’s second baseman Marcus Semien said that there just wasn’t enough time to cancel the game and so the A’s did play the Rangers on Wednesday but were able to cancel the game on Thursday.

#3 Semien said that after Wednesday’s game the team had a meeting in the clubhouse asking what they were going to do and they had seen other sports teams and leagues cancel their games and to shine a light on what is going on in our country.

#4 The A’s going into Saturday’s doubleheader have won six of their last eight games before postponing their next two games. The A’s did get two days rest how much of an advantage will that be for the A’s coming into Minute Maid Field against a rough and ready club like the Astros.

#5 Taking a look at today’s doubleheader pitchers for the A’s in the first game Chris Bassitt (2-1 ERA 2.97) for the Houston Astros Lance McCullers Jr (2-2 ERA 5.74) and in the night cap starting for the A’s Frankie Montas (2-2 ERA 5.22) and for the Astros Zack Greinke (1-0 ERA 2.29).

Jeremiah has the A’s podcasts every Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

The Houston Astros and Oakland A’s stand for the national anthem and later walked off the field to an empty stadium at Minute Maid Park on Jackie Robinson day postponing Friday night’s game in recognition of Black Lives Matter, shooting victim Jacob Blake and racial injustice in America (@Athletics photo)

A’s Astros Walk Off Field In Solidarity Against Racial Injustice

By Barbara Mason

The players took the field and nothing seemed amiss. The players stood along the field on either side to honor the National Anthem. They removed their hats because they love this country and wanted to honor it.

Again nothing seemed out of the ordinary. It was at this point that the players solemnly and silently walked single file off the field. A Black Lives Matter shirt was placed on home plate with an Astro jersey alongside on the right and an A’s jersey on the left side It was a simple yet powerful symbol as was the way they walked off the field.

This was two teams that a short three weeks ago were slugging it out over Ramon Laureano being hit twice in the game. Now they were living in unity and supporting a cause that many of us, black, white , or brown are deeply involved in.

They are not alone. The NBA, NHL, WNBA, NFL, MLS, and now MLB have joined forces voicing their disgust of the latest police shooting of an unarmed black man in Kenosha, Wisconsin. I need to say his name.

Jacob Blake is his name and he is now paralyzed for life, short of a miracle. Unbelievably shot in the back seven times we now have another horrendous video that is emblazoned into our minds. How can any caring human being watch this and tolerate this is unconscionable.

The White House will not address the reasons that are behind all of the demonstrating, the looting and the damage. Donald Trump is a whistle blower of hate; he thrives on this. People are mentally exhausted because of the racial unrest.

I believe that a lot more eyes have been opened lately throughout this nation. People are on the streets because they are tired of the non-action in the federal government. People at the top are ignoring this; they are not hearing and instead have used this to further their racist cause.

Doc Rivers head coach of the Clippers was clearly distraught with the state of this nation. “Why do we keep loving this country and the country doesn’t love us back. We’ve got to do better,” he said. He is not alone in his thoughts.

We do need to do better and we are not. Not much has really changed since we watched George Floyd die in Minneapolis Minnesota on May 25th. Yes the streets are filled with peaceful protestors but until they clean out this White House it will fall on deaf ears because the federal government simply does not care.

Now we have athletes like the Oakland A’’s and the Houston Astros stepping unto the political stage making a stand for racial justice because we have a hate-filled government. The NBA started a real movement that has crossed into every facet of the sports world. MLB is predominately white (only 6% are black) as is the MLS and the NHL yet they stand with the NBA and WNBA and also the NFL.

It is sad that racial injustice now lies on the shoulder of athletes. This is not their job but they do realize the power that they command. I believe that every player in every sport should speak to all their fans and urge all of them to vote and take the measures that need to be taken to cure the epidemic that has infiltrated this country.

Although as I said this is not their job the voice they have will reach far and wide. So be warned—if you believe in this government, you support racism, white supremacy, the KKK and QAnon. I am not saying that you are those things but you support them. Years ago we would have never seen an uprising of this magnitude but it is here now and it will not be silenced.

The Oakland A’s will be back on the field with heavy hearts to take on the Houston Astros in a double header Saturday. The first game will be played at 1:10 and the second at 4:10. We will continue to support the sports world in their endeavor to achieve racial justice and the belief that Black Lives Matter.

La Stella comes to A’s from Angels in trade: The Los Angeles Angels traded Tommy La Stella to the Oakland A’s for Franklin Barreto both play second base. La Stella is hitting .273, 27 hits, 4 homers, and 14 RBIs and Barreto scored five runs and is batting 0.00 for the season.

Starting pitchers for Saturday’s doubleheader: In the front game for the A’s Chris Bassitt (2-1 ERA 2.97) and for the Astros Lance McCullers Jr (2-2 ERA 5.74) and in the night cap for the A’s Frankie Montas (2-2 ERA 5.22) and for the Astros Zack Greinke (1-0 ERA 2.29)

The Oakland A’s statement regarding their postponing Thursday’s game vs. the Texas Rangers at Arlington on Thu Aug 27, 2020 (@Athletics) 

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s notified the Texas Rangers that the team would not play Thursday afternoon. The team voted to bring awareness to the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last Sunday. Three other games were also postponed. The Phillies-Nationals, Red Sox-Blue Jays, and the Twins-Tigers joined the other teams protesting systemic racism in America. The A’s statement is below:

“We will not take the field tonight to help raise awareness for these social issues, not just tonight, but for our collective future.”

The A’s discussed not playing Wednesday’s game, as a handful of MLB teams had done, but they ultimately decided to play because the discussion occurred too close to first pitch.
“It was really close to game time,” manager Bob Melvin said after the A’s 3-1 win Wednesday. “And we decided to play. I did give the option for anybody who did not feel comfortable playing not to play.”

First pitch was originally scheduled for 5:37 p.m. at Globe Life Field. The Rangers statement is as follows:

“We respect the decision by the Oakland A’s players to postpone tonight’s game. We stand with all those who condemn racial injustice and are committed to helping bring about an end to systemic racism,” said the Rangers organization in a statement.

The game will be rescheduled as part of a doubleheader on Sept. 12 when the A’s are scheduled to return to Arlington.

Major league baseball, The NBA, WNBA, NHL have all had teams postponing their games. As a society, we have come along way since the San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who took a knee to protest racism in 2016.

The killing of George Floyd was the match the lit the fuse. The shooting of Jacob Blake added fuel to the flame. It is time for the United States to end systemic racism in all settings. The time is now.

The Oakland A’s will be starting pitcher Chris Bassitt today at 3:37pm against the Texas Rangers as Bassitt looks to pick up his third win of the season. Bassitt is seen here throwing against the LA Angels on Mon Jul 27, 2020 ( file photo from AP News)

On the A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 Jerry do you agree that the A’s should stand pat and stay with what they got as the trade deadline nears this Monday?

#2 The A’s have one of the strongest bullpens in baseball in a short baseball season a lot of saves can get you into a good position to keep your lead in the division.

#3 Talk about catcher Jonah Heim he got his first big league hit on Tuesday night against Texas Rangers. Heim who got called up this week said he was shocked when the call came and in the line up Tuesday night.

#4 Heim found out he was in the starting line up when manager Bob Melvin grabbed him and had Heim look at the line up card which had his name on it for his first big league start.

#5 The A’s conclude the four game series today at 3:37pm the starting pitchers for the A’s RHP Chris Bassett (2-1 ERA 2.97) for the Rangers RHP Jordan Lyles (1-3 ERA 9.25) Jerry how do you see this match up.

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