Category: MLB

Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason: 49ers get just enough done to beat Washington; Raiders will have to turn the page after getting crushed by the Pack; plus more

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Photo credit: mercurynews.com

On Headline Sports with Barbara:

#1 The San Francisco 49ers kept their perfect record in tact shutting out Washington on Sunday 9-0. It was, messy, muddy, sloppy, and kicker Robby Gould did all the heavy lifting kicking three field goals for all the scoring.

#2 The Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rogers threw all day on Sunday against the visiting Oakland Raiders resulting in a 42-24 laugher for the Pack. The Packers ran through the Raiders defense like butter as Rogers passed for five touchdowns.

#3 The 2019 World Series is underway tonight at Minute Maid Field in Houston between the Washington Nationals and the Houston Astros. Both teams come into the series with potent pitching staffs, which proved their success in getting to the World Series.

#4 The Cal Bears (4-3) suffered their third loss dropping to 4-3 in a game they were supposed to win against Oregon State (3-4) 21-17 in Berkeley. The Bears couldn’t get any offense going in the first half.

#5 Quarterback problems live at Stanford University as the Cardinal (3-4) are now on their third quarterback. K.J. Costell and David Mills are both out with injuries and third string quarterback Jack West worked under center last Thursday night, but couldn’t get enough yards, rushing or passing done in the 34-16 loss to the UCLA Bruins (2-5).

Listen to Barbara Tuesdays for Headline Sports at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary 2019 World Series podcast: Nationals-Astros open Game 1 of World Series tonight

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Photo credit: abc13.com

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The 2019 World Series opens tonight at Minute Maid Field with the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros for Game 1.

#2 The rotation for both clubs is potent with the Astros’ Gerritt Cole, Justin Verlander, and Zack Greinke, and for the the Nationals: Max Scherzer, Stephen Strausburg, and Patrick Corbin.

#3 Jose Altuve was once again the postseason hero with another resounding home run against the New York Yankees in Game 6 of the ALCS. He’s been key throughout his postseason career.

#4 Astros third baseman Alex Bergman said that the Astros have the best pitchers in the world, as the Astros will be going with starters Gerritt Cole and Justin Verlander — pitchers who helped get them where they are tonight.

#5 The Nationals will be starting Max Scherzer in Game 1. He struck out 243 in the regular season, Cole starts for Houston with over 300 strikeouts in the regular season.

Amaury Pi-González is a pioneer in establishing Spanish Major League Baseball broadcast in the Bay Area since the mid-1970’s with the Oakland A’s. Also, most recently, the Spanish voice of San Jose Sharks hockey and one of the most recognizable voices in multiple sports in Spanish in the country. Pi-González is a longtime contributor to this site.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: 2019 World Series? Jose Altuve, God given talent

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photo from Houston Chronicle: Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) is picked up at home plate after hitting a game-winning, two-run, walk-off home run to win Game 6 of the American League Championship Series in the ninth. Altuve, a 5-foot-6 sparkplug touted as Houston’s heart and soul, didn’t let this one get away.

By Amaury Pi-González

Within seconds of José Altuve’s walk off home-run from Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman in the ninth inning of Game 6, which sent the Astros to their second World Series in the last three years, Yankee fans’ hope of winning their 28th World Series banished into the heavy Texas night.

A ‘high and outside’ slider might have been a ball, not a strike if he didn’t swing. But Altuve is one of the best bad ball hitters in baseball. He has not won three batting titles by walking. He comes to the plate looking to hack, most of the time.

This ability to hit pitches that are not strikes is also attributed to some great Hall of Fame players like Yogi Berra, Roberto Clemente, Vladimir Guerrero as well as future member of the Hall of Fame, Adrian Beltré and Albert Pujols and others. Without going that far back in history among great bad ball hitters, the Astros’ current first baseman Yuliesky (Yuli) Gurriel fits that category. Pitchers who know best will tell you the Cuban-born first baseman is one of the toughest outs.

You can analyze all you want about “discipline at the plate,” which is taught in baseball since Little League. I mean, no coach when you are 12 years old tells you to hit a pitch that is ‘head high,” or bouncing two feet before the plate.

These guys are basically born with that ‘God given talent.” You cannot teach these types of guys plate discipline because they just see the ball and hit the ball, regardless where the ball is. They are abundant in talent, talent to hit pitches that many others can only dream of hitting.

These quotes below are courtesy of the Houston Astros Productions.

José Altuve speaking about his faith as a Christian.

“Faith has always been something very important to me and to my family.”

“When my brother and I were growing up, our parents always reminded us to give thanks to God.”

“When we go on a road-trip and I am not with my family, the Bible has always been helpful to me as a Christian. It is like I am born like that, just like being hungry, it is to me to open and read the Bible.”

“Many other players are friends who also are Christians and share the same experiences with me like Robinson Chirinos and Albert Pujols.”

“Nobody tells me what to do, it is a call I have to read the Bible.”

“My favorite verse of the Bible is John: 14.6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

In 2017, after the Astros defeated the Dodgers to win the World Series, Altuve — one of the smallest men in baseball, but one of the biggest talents — was as humble as ever as he said: “I give all the glory to God.”

All of Altuve’s 5’6″ and 165 pounds will be at second-base for the Astros when they face the National League Champion, Washington Nationals, in the 115th edition of the World Series.

World Series
Tuesday, October 22
Game 1
FOX National TV (Bay Area KTVU CH 2)
Time: 8:08 ET
Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas

Pitchers: Nationals TBD

Astros: Gerrit Cole (20-5, 2.50 ERA)

Amaury Pi-González is a pioneer in establishing Spanish Major League Baseball broadcast in the Bay Area since the mid-1970’s with the Oakland A’s. Also, most recently, the Spanish voice of San Jose Sharks hockey and one of the most recognizable voices in multiple sports in Spanish in the country. Pi-González is a longtime contributor to this site.

MLB The Show Fall Classic 2019 podcast with Daniel Dullum: Nats-Astros, whose going to win the whole thing?; MLB to make changes to minor league rules; plus more

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illustration from mlb.com

On the MLB The Show Fall Classic 2019 podcast with Daniel:

1 ALCS — Yankees and Astros, Nationals standing by after sweeping St. Louis in NLCS

2 MLB wants to make sweeping changes to minor leagues

3 Yankee fans taunting Astros’ Zack Greinke for his mental health issues

4 Giants managerial rumor of the week

5 Jeopardy host not a fan of the Phillie Fanatic

MLB The Show podcast ALCS 2019 with Matt Harrington: Hicks blast keeps Yanks in series; NY has a chance to tie series tonight in Houston

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photo from chron.com: The New York Yankees Aaron Hicks goes deep off Astros starter Justin Verlander in the first inning of game 5 in Yankee Stadium on Friday night in the ALCS

On the MLB Post Season podcast with Matt:

#1 The New York Yankees LeMahieu hit a home run to right on a 1-0 count to put the Yanks on the scoreboard in the first inning

#2 Aaron Judge hit a single to left, then Torres hit a double to left, and Hicks with a three run home run to the left of the right field foul pole scoring Torres and Judge ahead of him 4-1 Yankees

#3 You know what they say about good pitching the Yankees got a great start from Jim Paxson going six innings, one earned run, and nine strike outs for the win

#4 The Houston Astros starter pitched well except for that four run first inning going seven innings, five hits, four runs earned, and nine strike outs.

#5 The Astros lead the series 3-2 can the Yankees pull another ace from their sleeve in tonight’s elimination game in Houston in game six?

Join Matt for the MLB podcast now and through the World Series at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: 30 Years Since the World Series, Loma Prieta Earthquake

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Photo credit: foundsf.org

By Amaury Pi-González

It has been 30 years later after that unforgettable October 17, 1989, Loma Prieta earthquake that stopped the Oakland A’s vs. San Francisco Giants World Series. Then-MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent decided on the classic postpone for 11 days. The A’s won two games prior to the earthquake and two more after in sweeping the Giants to win their fourth World Series in Oakland and ninth in total since they started playing in Philadelphia over 100 years ago.

That day was an unforgettable day as Evelio Areas Mendoza and yours truly were ending our pregame show on radio, when just minutes past 5 p.m., the earth shook Candlestick Park. Many people at the press box ran to the elevators, and many were trapped there because all electricity was lost. I remember fist images that I was able to see was that of KPIX CH 5 then-anchor Ana Chávez and the shot of the Bay Bridge, where cans fell into the bay. At that time, the whole world stopped, and we realized that when “mother nature” speaks, the World Series seems insignificant.

We became news reporters and witnesses. Manolo Alvarez, who was covering the game for WQBA AM in Miami came over and asked me how many more earthquakes were coming next. He is from Miami, where they are famous for hurricanes and not earthquakes, and had no idea. I explained to him that usually the after shocks are lesser in intensity. It was a 6.0, a very strong quake and we were lucky in the Bay Area as casualties were not as high as anticipated minutes after it happened.

It was a night to remember for all of us at that game were all of a sudden witnesses and interviewed. I remembered the experience for a few outlets in Mexico and Latin America. For me, that was one of the most hectic moments in my life and the most powerful earthquake I have ever felt to date.

Just a few days ago, we felt another shaker — this one, 5.4, almost 30 years to that October 30, 1989 shaker.

Amaury Pi-González is the pioneer in establishing Spanish baseball play by play in the Bay Area. With 40 years experience in radio and television in the Bay Area with the A’s, Giants, Warriors games as well as in Los Angeles with the Angels and Clippers for Fox TV play by play. Inducted into three Hall of Fame, BARHOF (Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame), The Cuban Sports Hall of Fame(Miami), and The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame.

Headline Sports podcast with London Marq: Can Raiders make it three in a row against the Pack?; Garoppolo, 49ers take lots of confidence to Seattle this Sunday; plus more

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Photo credit: @Raiders

On Headline Sports podcast with London:

#1 For the Oakland Raiders, they’re nice and rested from their jet lag after their trip to London on October 6th and a bye week on October 13th. Now they prepare to play a Green Bay Packers (5-1) team, who are coming off a 23-22 narrow edge victory against the Detroit Lions last Monday Night Football. Can the Raiders pull off their third straight win at the Frozen Tundra this Sunday?

#2 The Packers got a late field goal in the fourth quarter — a 23-yarder with just over a minute left in the game from kicker Mason Crosby after quarterback Aaron Rogers took two knees before electing to kick a field goal for the one point win.

#3 San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has no doubts and lots of confidence going into these games, on Sunday against the LA Rams Garoppolo threw 24-33 for 243 yards and their fifth straight win 20-7.

#4 The Sacramento Kings picked up their first preseason win against the Utah Jazz Monday night with a 128-115 victory. The Kings’ Buddy Hield was all over the place with 23 points and he was the key to the offense in the Kings win.

#5 In the baseball playoffs, the Houston Astros took a 2-1 ALCS lead over the New York Yankees on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium. The Astros’ Garrett Cole threw for seven innings, four hits, five walks, and seven strikeouts.

London Marq does Headline Sports podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason: People still asking are 49ers for real; Raiders continue out of town trip in Green Bay Sunday; plus more

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Photo credit: mercurynews.com

On Headline Sports with Barbara:

#1 Are the San Francisco 49ers an optical illusion or are they for real? People are pinching themselves over the Niners at 5-0 and their amazing performance on both sides of the football.

#2 The Oakland Raiders continue their long strange trip this time against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday. The Raiders play their fourth game out of the last five weeks out on the road and they’ve won their last two games.

#3 MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said for the Oakland City Council to get its act together soon or the Oakland A’s will move to Vegas. Some question if Manfred was more on the hasty and demanding side, while the city has put a legal hold on the A’s ability to buy the Coliseum property. In the meantime, CA Gov. Gavin Newsom said he will try to expedite the construction of the A’s new stadium at the Howard Terminal.

#4 The Cal Bears are coming off a tough loss to Oregon October 5th and host OSU at Cal this is expected to be a much better game this Saturday than their last game in Oregon.

#5 No one would have thought that San Jose Sharks’ Patrick Marleau would be the difference in turning things around after the Sharks went 0-4 and now they’re up to 2-4 and could close in on .500 on Wednesday night with a win over the Carolina Hurricanes at SAP Center.

#6 Calls went against the Detroit Lions Trey Flowers for hand to the face on Monday Night Football on the second hands to the face call it forced the Lions into their own red zone and the Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rogers took a knee twice and with just a little over a minute left the Packers kicker Mason Crosby kicked a 23 yard field goal for the 23-22.

Catch Barbara for Headlines Sports podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Cardinals facing elimination in game at Washington; Yankees-Astros series tied at 1-1; plus more

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Photo credit: bleacherreport.com

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary’s podcast:

#1 The series all tied at 1-1, the Houston Astros won Game 2 and they had to come back from behind against the New York Yankees in 11 innings to win by a run, 3-2.

#2 After facing some tough pitching in St. Louis, the Cards play an elimination game tonight in Washington. Down 0-3, the Cards faced some tough Nationals pitching over the last two games.

#3 Is it a lack of patience by the Commissioner of Baseball Rob Manfred with the City of Oakland and that lack of patience translate to the city council retreat or double down on the Oakland A’s and MLB in their lawsuit against the A’s?

#4 The 49ers have won five straight and are undefeated after their many struggles over the last few years. The question is are the 49ers the real deal?

#5 Some of the candidates named for the open Giants manager position are Ron Wotus, Bam Bam Muelens, Bob Geren, Gabe Kapler, Mark Kotsay, Raul Ibanez and even current Dodgers manager Dave Roberts if the Dodgers let him go.

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

MLB The Show 2019 Postseason podcast with Daniel Dullum: Angels employee supplied Skaggs with painkillers; Nats’ pitching shuts down Cards; plus more

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photo from wsj.com: Tyler Skaggs in file photo was found to have used oxycodone, fentanyl and alcohol which led to his death, an Angels employee furnished Skaggs with opioids

On the MLB The Show 2019 Postseason podcast with Daniel Dullum:

1 Report: Angels PR employee was supplying Tyler Skaggs with opioids

2 Nationals pitching keeps Cardinals bats quiet in NLCS

3 Yankees pick up where they left off in first game of ALCS against the Astros

4 Giants reportedly talking to ex-Phils skipper Gabe Kapler about managerial opening

5 Nationals’ Sean Doolittle stands up for teammate Daniel Hudson’s paternity leave during playoff