Category: Oakland Athletics

San Francisco Giants/Oakland A’s podcast with Morris Phillips: How the trades shape up at the deadline for A’s and Giants

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Mark Canha seen here with the Detroit Tigers on Sun Apr 14, 2024 scores a run as Minnesota Twins catcher Christian Vazquez looks on at Comerica Park in Detroit. Canha was traded to the San Francisco Giants on Tue Jul 30, 2024 for pitcher Eric Silva. Canha joins the Giants against his former team the Oakland A’s in the second game of the Bay Bridge Series. (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants/Oakland A’s podcast with Morris:

#1 Former Oakland A’s outfielder Mark Canha who is from San Jose is back in the Bay Area joining the San Francisco Giants coming in a deal with Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night. Canha 35 joins manager Bob Melvin who he played for in Oakland. Canha hit .231, 74 hits, seven home runs, and 38 RBIs for Detroit.

#2 Designated hitter Jorge Soler and pitcher Luke Jackson were dealt to the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday. The Giants save $26 million on Soler’s salary and Jackson had a $7 million option in 2025 with a $2 million buyout. Soler and Jackson were both on the 2021 Braves World Series team who beat the Houston Astros for the title.

#3 The Giants also dealt pitcher Alex Cobb who was traded to the Cleveland Guardians. Cobb who did not pitch for the Giants in 2024 due to hip surgery and a neck injury was 7-7 and had an 3.87 ERA in 2023 and joins former teammate and now manager of the Guardians Stephen Vogt.

#4 The Oakland A’s dealt pitcher Paul Blackburn to the New York Mets. Blackburn for the 2024 season was 4-2 with a 4.41 ERA. Blackburn joins the Mets as they are in third place in the NL East eight games off the pace behind first place Philadelphia. Blackburn was acquired to help the Mets in their drive in August and September for a shot at the post season. The A’s get right handed pitchers Huascar Brazoban and Tyler Zuber from the Miami Marlins, each player cost the Mets one prospect.

#5 Lucas Erceg who was dealt to the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday from the Oakland A’s had just closed on a house in the Arizona two days later he received news he was traded to the Royals. The good news for Erceg he and his wife Emma learned that the Royals spring training home is located near Surprise Arizona so it was a surprise for Erceg in two days in this trade. Erceg on the year for the A’s was 2-3 with a 3.58 ERA. Erceg was a middle reliever for the A’s.

Morris Phillips is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants lose Bay Bridge Series opener 5-2 after perplexing trade deadline; A’s have won ten of last 14

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Oakland A’s starter JP Sears threw seven innings of shutout ball against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in what will be the A’s last Bay Bridge Series appearance as an Oakland team at Oracle Park on Tue Jul 30, 2024 (AP News photo)

Tuesday, July 30, 2024

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Oakland Athletics 5 (45-64)

San Francisco Giants 2 (53-56)

Win: JP Sears (8-8)

Loss: Robbie Ray (1-1)

Time: 2:40

Attendance: 37,885

By Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–After an interesting trade deadline in which the Giants sold to dump some salary, they went up and lost 5-2 to the Oakland A’s, who hit four home runs, in the first game of this short two-game set.

After a brutal 2-5 road trip to start the second half, the Giants swept the Colorado Rockies in four games over the weekend at Oracle Park to get back up to 53-55 and just three and a half games back of the third wild card spot. That prompted President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi to somewhat go for it.

Now, the A’s came into town for the first leg of the 2024 Bay Bridge Series. Well, this may have looked like an easy schedule for the Giants on paper, the A’s came into Tuesday night’s game winners of nine of their last 13 games.

This would be Bob Melvin’s first game managing on the other side of the Bay Bridge Series. Melvin managed the A’s from June 2011 through the end of the 2021 Season. Melvin took the A’s to the playoffs six times in his ten full seasons at the helm. Melvin won 853 games with the A’s, the most for the A’s in Oakland, and an extremely-distant second-most in franchise history next to the legendary Connie Mack’s 3,582 games.

Left-hander Robbie Ray made his second start of the season. Ray made his long-awaited Giants’ debut on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium, giving up just a run and striking out eight over five no-hit innings. Ray got the lone win for the Giants in their four-game series at Dodger Stadium.

Ray started off his night with a scoreless top of the first inning. The Giants then came to bat against A’s left-hander JP Sears in the bottom of the first. Heliot Ramos lined a two-out base-hit to center field with two outs, but he was caught trying to steal second base to end the inning.

Daz Cameron led off the top of the second with a home run to right to put the A’s on the board. After Sears threw a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the second, Lawrence Butler hit a home run to center with one out in the top of the third to make it 2-0.

Sears pitched a scoreless bottom of the third, and a 1-2-3 bottom of the fourth. As for Ray, escaped a one-out, bases-loaded jam in the top of the fourth, but he surrendered a two-run home run to Brent Rooker with one out in the top of the fifth.

That would do it for Ray, whose outing Tuesday night was a lot different than his outing last Wednesday in Los Angeles, as he gave up four runs and seven hits.

Spencer Bivens came in and escaped a jam to finish the top of the fifth, but he did throw a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the sixth. He then threw a scoreless top of the seventh, as he did eat up two and two thirds innings.

Sears remained in complete control, and he ended up giving up just three hits, walking just one and striking out nine over seven shutout innings. The Giants wasted a couple of opportunities, but you have to tip your cap to Sears, who was on Tuesday night.

JJ Bleday homered to right off left-hander Taylor Rogers in the top of the eighth to make it 5-0. For the A’s, it was their fourth home run of the night, and it was surprising considering that they have depended on the long ball during this stretch.

Mark Kotsay brought in former Giant Scott Alexander in the bottom of the eighth. Marco Luciano, who was called back up Tuesday, doubled to center to lead off the inning. Luciano advanced to third on a wild pitch with one out, and after David Villar walked, Derek Hill got Luciano in on a ground out to second.

Austin Adams struck Tyler Fitzerald out to end the bottom of the eighth, and Ryan Walker came in for the Giants to throw a 1-2-3 top of the ninth.

Tyler Ferguson came in for Oakland in the bottom of the ninth. The Giants got their second run of the game when Patrick Bailey knocked in Michael Conforto with one out. That would be all they would get, and the A’s won it 5-2.

JP Sears got the win, and Robbie Ray took his first loss of the season. The Giants fall to 53-56, and now five games back of the Padres for the third wild card.

The Giants and A’s will be back at it Wednesday night. Logan Webb (7-8, 3.72 ERA) will be on the mound for the Giants, and he will be opposed by former Giant Ross Stripling (2-9, 6.02 ERA).

Giants News and Notes:

Tuesday of course was the Trade Deadline in Baseball, and the Giants, well, I don’t know what to make of their moves.

Last night, Farhan Zaidi traded Jorge Soler and Luke Jackson back to the Braves for right-handed reliever Tyler Matzek and minor league infielder Sabin Ceballos.

Tuesday morning, Zaidi dealt Alex Cobb, who is just about to come off the Injured List, but has been held back by a blister, to the Cleveland Guardians for left-handed pitching prospect Jason Bresnahan. Cobb was was all-star for the Giants last season, but has yet to pitch in a major league game this season due to hip surgery.

Don’t worry, the Giants got a bat. Zaidi acquired outfielder Mark Canha for minor league reliever Eric Silva.

Most importantly, the Giants did not trade Blake Snell, as Zaidi apparently felt that they needed to go with it after sweeping the Rockies, one of the worst teams in baseball, in four games over the weekend.

So, you can say the main goal of the deadline for Zaidi and the Giants was dumping salary, and somewhat going for it with the kids.

The Giants of course called Marco Luciano prior to the game. Luciano was swinging the bat quite well, as he hit .375 in ten games. However, his defense was a whole nother story, as he committed five errors in five games.

Blake Sabol was also called up prior to the game.

The Giants and Baseball suffered a tragedy over the weekend. Former Giants’ reliever Reyes Moronta was killed in a motorcycle accident in his native Dominican Republic Sunday.

The Giants called Moronta up in September 2017, and he pitched in seven games. In 69 games in 2018, he was a big part of a solid Giants’ bullpen that season, as he went 5-2 with a 2.49 ERA. In 2019, he was solid again, positing a 2.86 ERA.

Moronta was very much in the future plans for the Giants, and was even setting himself up to be the team’s closer. However, he tore his labrum in an outing against the San Diego Padres on Aug. 31, 2019, and he was never the same afterwards.

Moronta missed the COVID-shortened 60-game sprint season of 2020, and then only appeared in four games for the Giants in 2021. He then split time with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks in 2022, posting a 4.30 ERA, and then he struggled with the Los Angeles Angels last season with an ERA of 6.75.

This season Moronta moved to the Mexican League and signed with the Bravos de León, posting an 8.69 ERA. He was then released on July 25, just three days prior to his death.

The Giants honored Moronta prior to the game with a moment of silence.

Final Thoughts:

I really have no clue what Farhan Zaidi has in mind here. Okay, so he’s somewhat going for it with the kids, but he’s selling to dump some salary.

He’s supposedly going for it, but he traded Jorge Soler, who was popular in the clubhouse, and who had finally been swinging the bat well after a rough start to his season. Then the best he can do is get Mark Canha from the Tigers, which, granted, was a better move than the trade for A.J. Pollock at the deadline last season, but really?

The worst part was that the Giants passed on a potential golden opportunity to trade Blake Snell to a contender for a top prospect, because they swept just a godawful Rockies’ team to get to within three and a half games, which gave them some “hope.” Snell is most likely not even going to be back next season

I’m not saying that they should kick the tires to next season. That’s why I wanted to buy AND sell. In fact, this is the first time in a long time that I was open to trading prospects. But still, you just can not pass up on an opportunity to add a top prospect. Especially since, despite the fact that I predicted that the Giants would get off to a frustrating start over the first two to four months, then get it together, I have pretty much lost hope for this season.

I’m not saying it’s over, hence the buy and sell, but it’s very unlikely to result in anything special at this point. Why? Farhan Zaidi. I’ll give credit to Farhan, he is a supremely intelligent man, and he has made some sneaky good moves in almost-six seasons with the Giants. He made some clever moves to help the Giants get back into contention in 2019; the Giants almost made the playoffs in 2020; and of course, they had their 107-win impossible dream season in 2021.

However, since 2022, it has been mostly downhill. These last three seasons have all pretty much been the same. Farhan signs some guys, and there’s hope and expectations coming into the season, as well as a good clubhouse. They have their ups and downs, but they really can’t truly get it together. Farhan then struggles to show his team that he believes in them, and then they collapse.

It happened at the end of June 2022, and it happened again after A.J. Pollock was the best player Farhan could add at the Trade Deadline last year. What I suspect did it this year was when he went on KNBR after the Giants’ 5-3 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on July 11.

After a run in which the Giants won eight out of 11, the Giants lost the final two games of their three game series in Cleveland against the Guardians, the third-best team in Baseball, and then they lost two of three to the Blue Jays at home. They lost four out of five, it happens.

But then after the loss to Toronto to close out the series, Farhan went on KNBR to tell Tom Tolbert and Adam Copeland, “We’re 4 games under .500. Overall it’s been a real disappointment. We pushed a lot of chips in with this team. We need the players to show what the right direction is for us. If we keep playing like we did for the last 5 days, we’re going to have to think about selling and seeing some younger players.”

The 2024 San Francisco Giants are a good team. They have talent, but they are also a young team with some growing pains. They have battled hard all season, and for Farhan to go on KNBR and dump all over them, that has to be demoralizing in the clubhouse.

Now, one of two things can happen. Either they can use that as motivation to stick it to Farhan, or they can let it get to them and implode. Sadly, it’s the latter. You’re going to get that with a young team, but it also shows that now is the time for new leadership. Perhaps someone with less of an analytical background, and more of a real baseball background. Somebody who knows and understands the game, and has a real feel for the game. Someone who knows how to deal with players.

Farhan has built a nice young core here in the 2020s, but while he has some good plans, he is not exactly the best at executing it. He has also shown that he has a hard time managing the day-to-day operations of a baseball front office. From the almost-daily roster changes to the PR blunders he’s had, Farhan has shown that he really struggles to deal with his players.

But this is what you get with analytical guys. They may love the game, but they just believe in numbers and really don’t have a feel for the game. They are bland, robotic and sterile, and they just view players as robots and mere objects instead of what they are, HUMAN BEINGS.

Players are real people, and they are working tirelessly every day over the course of the long grind of a major league baseball season. You have to treat them with the respect that they deserve, and most importantly, you have to show that you believe in them. Farhan has failed to do that. All Farhan has done is throw his players and city under the bus, and this can not continue.

Farhan has played his role, but it is time to move on, and it is time to hire a real baseball person to run the front office. Farhan has built a nice young core, but the Giants need to let someone with a real feel and understanding of our great game take the reins from here.

As for the Giants’ analytics department, they can stay. There is a place for the analytical people in baseball: being a small part of the overall art of baseball, and assisting the baseball people who are in charge with valuable statistics that they can take into account.

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: A’s open up two game set against Giants at Oracle Park Tuesday

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The Oakland A’s Shea Langeliers (23) drops his bat after hitting a home run in the top of the bottom of the first inning at Angels Stadium in Anaheim on Sun Jul 27, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara:

#1  After scoring six runs in the third inning, the A’s allowed eight Angel hits and the Angels scored in three straight innings the third through the fifth.

#2 There was not a home run in sight for Oakland in this game. More often than not the A’s don’t do well when they are not knocking long balls. 

#3 Sunday afternoon, the A’s finished up their series with the Angels losing in the fourth game of the four game series and failing to pick up the four game sweep. 

#4 A’s Osvaldo Bido really fell apart in the fourth inning walking three runners and allowing a Taylor Ward grand slam giving Los Angeles their first lead of the game 7-6. 

#5 The A’s-Giants will meet for a two game Bay Bridge Series at Oracle park starting Tuesday night at 6:40pm PT. Neither team has announced a starter. The A’s are coming off winning three out of four games in Anaheim and the Giants are coming off sweeping the Rockies in four games in Colorado. Barbara how do you see this match up.

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

A’s Denied Sweep By Angels Lose 8-6 at Angels Stadium

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Los Angeles Angels Taylor Ward hit a grand slam is congratulated by third base coach Eric Young Sr in the bottom of the fourth inning at Angel Stadium against the Oakland A’s at Angels Stadium on Sun Jul 28, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (44-65) took a 6-0 lead in the third inning of game four of their series. They let the Los Angeles Angels (47-60) back into the game losing 8-6 at Angels Stadium. After scoring six runs in the third inning, the A’s allowed eight Angel hits in the third through the fifth innings.

There was not a home run in sight for Oakland in this game. More often than not the A’s don’t do well when they are not knocking long balls. They did win this series however, their fourth series win in a row.

Sunday afternoon, the A’s finished up their series with the Angels losing in the fourth game of the four game series and failing to pick up the four game sweep. Going into this series Oakland had already won the first three games winning the series but couldn’t seal the seal as the Angels Taylor Ward’s grand slam in the fourth inning gave the Angels a leg up in the two run win.

Game recap: After a quiet first and second inning, both teams displayed some fireworks in the third inning. Oakland scored six runs in the third inning and a possible sweep began to look very promising. In the third inning, Tyler Nevin scored on an error for the early 1-0 lead.

Brent Rooker continued his stellar play doubling and driving JJ Bleday, Lawrence Butler. and Miguel Andujar home extending their lead to 4-0. Abraham Toro singled Brent Rooker home and Kyle McCann doubled Toro home giving the A’s a substantial lead 6-0. Through the first two innings Oakland pitcher Osvaldo Bido had kept the Angels off the scoreboard but it came apart in the third inning when the Angels scored three runs.

The bottom of the third inning was the turning point in this game and it favored the Angels. They cut the A’s lead in half when Luis Rengifo grounded out allowing Zach Neto to score and Willie Calhoun singled a couple of runners home to cut Oakland’s lead to 6-3.

Both Jo Adell and Nolan Schanuel scored on the Calhoun single and the Angels were just getting started. Oakland pitcher Osvaldo Bido was starting to struggle but did continue to throw going into the fourth inning.

Bido really fell apart in the fourth inning walking three runners and allowing a Taylor Ward grand slam giving Los Angeles their first lead of the game 7-6. Zach Neto, Nolan Schanuel and Luis Rengifo scored on the Ward long ball.

That was it for Bido who was relieved by T.J. McFarland in the fourth inning. Bido had allowed six hits, seven earned runs. walked four players and had six strikeouts in a frustrating fourth inning for the pitcher. McFarland would get Oakland out of the inning with no further damage. Oakland only trailed by a single run and there was a lot of game still left to play.

Los Angeles would tack one more run on in the fifth inning for the final of 8-6. Michel Otanez relieved McFarland in the fifth inning and did allow the one Los Angeles run which turned out to be the final 8-6 score. With four innings left in the game, the A’s had ample opportunity to make a difference in this game.

The final four innings were a disaster for Oakland. They went three and out in the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth innings. No hits through six innings for Oakland and not a single home run in this game. The great start that the A’s had in this game soured in the bottom of the third inning and Los Angeles never let up.

The A’s will take on the San Francisco Giants in a two game series at Oracle Park on Tuesday night. First pitch for that game is scheduled for 6:45 PM. JP Sears will take the mound for the A’s with a 7-8 win/loss record and a 4.81 ERA. The Giants will start Robbie Ray who comes in with a 1-0 win/loss record and a 1.80 ERA.

A’s Win Fourth Series In a Row Beating Angels 3-1 at the Big A

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Oakland A’s Shea Langeliers belts a three run home run against the Los Angeles Angels in the top of the first inning and it was all the runs the A’s would need to win the game on Sat Jul 27, 2024 at the Big A in Anaheim (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (44-63) got on the board early taking a 3-0 lead. They did not score for the rest of the game but they held on with some solid defense and great work on the mound. Shea Langeliers hit a three run home run in the first inning and that would be all that the A’s would need to finish off the Angels (45-60) 3-1 at Angels Stadium in Anaheim.

The A’s got the early jump on the Angels in the first inning of the game. Shea Langeliers hit a 3-run home run taking an early 3-0 lead and Oakland was off and running and this time it would be Los Angeles that had to play catch up.

The Angels were unable to answer in the bottom of the first inning. Neither team scored in the second inning but Los Angeles attempted a rally in the third inning but was only able to score one run. Los Angeles’ Nolan Schanuel knocked the ball out of the yard for a solo home run. The A’s continued to lead 3-1 going into the seventh inning. Oakland would be looking for an insurance run in the latter innings of this matchup.

The Angels breezed through the top of the seventh inning finishing Oakland off with a double play. Los Angeles would go to work in the bottom of the inning looking to put some more runs on the board.

Oakland’s Austin Adams did a nice job dismissing the Angels and the A’s would take a 3-1 lead into the top of the eighth inning. The A’s Austin Adams had relieved Mitch Spence on the mound in the seventh frame. Spence had a nice game going six innings and finishing with 3 hits, 1 run and 3 strikeouts.

The Angels Hunter Strickland relieved Tyler Anderson to start the eighth inning for Los Angeles. Anderson had an outstanding game going seven innings and finishing with six hits, three runs and ten strikeouts. Both starting pitchers put in some nice work in this game.

The Angels had a leadoff walk in the bottom of the eighth inning with the dangerous Luis Rengifo at the plate. A’s pitcher Michel Otanez who had relieved Adams did a great job getting out of the inning as this game headed into the ninth inning.

Angels pitcher Matt Moore walked Zach Gelof and Daz Cameron. An Abraham Toro sacrifice advanced Gelof and Cameron to second and third base and Oakland had a great chance to extend their lead. The A’s were unable to cash in when Max Schuemann struck out and the Angels had one last inning to change the course of this game.

Oakland’s Tyler Ferguson came into the game looking to close out this game for the A’s. It was a three and out for Ferguson who celebrated his second win. The A’s had won the series and would be going for a sweep in Sunday’s game.

Game recap: Saturday evening the A’s took on the Angels in game three of their four game series. Oakland won the first two games of the series by a single run in two extremely tight games and on Saturday night won game three by two runs 3-1.

The A’s got some great work on the mound from their starters and their bullpen as well. The A’s win in game three is the fourth straight series win for Oakland. In Saturday nights’ game, the A’s started Mitch Spence who pitched six innings, gave up three hits, one earned run, two walks and three strike outs in the win. For the Angels losing pitcher Tyler Anderson pitched seven innings, allowed six hits, gave up three earned runs and a walk.

The A’s will finish off this four game series Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1:07 PM. Probable pitchers for game four is Osvaldo Bido (2-1, ERA 3.09) for Oakland and Jose Soriano (6-7, ERA 3.51) for the Angels.

A’s Take Game Two In Another One-Run Win Over Los Angeles 5-4; Oakland wins six of last eight

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Oakland A’s Seth Brown (15) gets congratulated in the A’s dugout after hitting a home run in the top of the second inning against the Los Angeles Angels at the Big A in Anaheim on Fri Jul 26, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Los Angeles Angels (45-59) took the lead early in this game 4-0 but the Oakland A’s (43-63) came roaring back scoring five unanswered runs for a final score of 5-4 in favor of the A’s on Friday. The A’s are in fourth place in the league with 137 home runs hitting two long balls out of the yard in this game.

Game recap: Los Angeles got on the board in the first inning in a perfect start for the team. They hit back to back two run homers taking an early 4-0 lead. Taylor Ward hit the first long ball out of the yard with Luis Rengifro on board for the 2-0 lead. Nolan Schanuel followed that up with another two run home run with Logan O’Hoppe on base and the Angels were off and running.

Oakland cut the Los Angeles lead in half when Seth Brown hit a two run home run in the second inning with Shea Langeliers on base and just like that the score was 4-2 in favor of the Angels.

After five innings of work Oakland pitcher Paul Blackburn was relieved by Joey Estes. Blackburn finished with five hits, four runs and two strikeouts. He had four nice innings only stumbling early in the first inning allowing the two home runs.

Work on the mound took over for the next three innings, the third, fourth and fifth innings with neither team scoring any runs. In the sixth inning, the A’s Brent Rooker tied up the game 4-4 hitting a two run home run.

Oakland would take their first lead of the game in the sixth 5-4 in another one run game. Again Seth Brown stepped up big hitting a single that brought Shea Langeliers home.

When the Angels put a couple of runners on base in the bottom of the eighth inning Oakland pitcher Joey Estes was relieved by T.J. McFarland. McFarland got the A’s out of the inning and it was on to the ninth inning in this tight game.

Oakland was unable to score an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning and the A’s defense would take over in the bottom of the ninth looking for a second win in this series. Lucas Erceg sent the Angels packing only allowing a single hit. Jo Adell struck struck out, Anthony Rendon grounded out and Zach Neto lined out and that was the ball game with the A’s coming out on top with a one run win 5-4.

Post game notes: Friday night the A’s took on the Angels in game two of their four game series. Last night the A’s held onto a 6-5 lead through five innings. Oakland pitcher Ross Stripling had a rough second inning in game one Thursday but pulled it all together going 5 2/3 innings and the A’s stubbornly held onto the one run lead for the rest of the game.

Friday night, the A’s picked up the win in game two and assured themselves of at least tying this series and also a winning record for July. Oakland pitcher Paul Blackburn returned to start coming off the 60 day IR.

This was the first time since early May the A’s have seen him work on the mound. The Angels started Carmen Fulmer who was looking for his first win of the season. Fulmer pitched well enough in a close game going 5.2 innings, allowing two hits and three runs but still couldn’t win it.

Game three of this four game series is scheduled to start at 6:38 PM Saturday night. Probable pitchers for this game are Mitch Spence (6-6, ERA 4.67) for Oakland and for the Angels Tyler Anderson (8-8, ERA 2.91) gets the nod.

Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: The wait continues for A’s share of construction costs; 1000s to be laid off after A’s season

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Sandy Dean Oakland A’s owner John Fisher business partner addresses the Las Vegas Stadium Authority on Thu Jul 18, 2024 (LV Sports Biz.com photo)

On the Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum:

#1 Lots happening the Oakland A’s still have time to come up with the $500 million for their share of the construction costs towards the Las Vegas ballpark on the strip. Sandy Dean Oakland A’s owner John Fisher business partner spoke to the Las Vegas Stadium Authority saying the A’s were in good shape financially.

#2 The truth of the matter is the A’s do not have the money right now for their share of the construction costs and it’s due by the end of this year. Dean says the A’s will have the money coming from debt that’s owed the team, the Fisher Family, and other interests.

#3 It was announced earlier this week that the A’s will be laying off over 1000 employees whether they be contractors or team employees that are not non baseball jobs because there are Sacramento Rivercats employees who are available to take up those jobs. Just a very few will survive the job cuts and will be coming up to Sacramento to work for the team.

#4 As far as we’ve learned most of the A’s radio and TV air talent will survive the cuts except for Vince Cotroneo who had broadcast with the team since 2006 will be leaving after this season due to the A’s not extending his contract.

#5 Amongst some of the departments being laid off at the A’s marketing, community relations, field operations, legal and ticket services which the Rivercats will cover when the A’s get to Sacramento.

Daniel Dullum does the Oakland A’s Relocation podcast each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Mason Miller did pound trainer table to break pinkie; A’s edge Halos 6-5

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Oakland A’s Daz Cameron is congratulated in the A’s dugout after hitting a two run fourth inning home run off the Los Angeles Angels on Thu Jul 25, 2024 at the Big A in Anaheim (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 Oakland A’s All Star flame throwing reliever Mason Miller it was confirmed on Thursday did break his pinkie finger on his non throwing hand when he pounded a table in the trainers room on Monday night after he was told he needed to do a post game lifting after the A’s win over the Houston Astros.

#2 Jeremiah, Lawrence Butler and Brent Rooker both hit their ninth home runs in the month of July. They’re efforts have helped the A’s win some games and series as well.

#3 The A’s kept up the offense when Daz Cameron hit a fourth inning two run homer off Angels starter Kenny Rosenberg. The A’s have been putting together some great offense hitting 21 homers in their last eight games.

#4 With Butler and Rooker’s nine home runs apiece that’s third best in baseball for the month of July.

#5 The A’s continue their series with the Angels on Friday night. The A’s RHP Paul Blackburn (3-2, 4.11) and the Angels RHP Carson Fulmer (0-3, ERA 3.66) starters for game two of this series.

Join Jeremiah for the A’s podcasts Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Bally’s merger helped A’s plan for Las Vegas

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The Tropicana is seen in the process of demolition on the Strip in Las Vegas Monday, July 22, 2024. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Bally’s merger helped A’s plan for Las Vegas

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

As the Oakland A’s prepare to end their over half-century playing at the Oakland Coliseum this 2024, things in Las Vegas are moving with Bally’s corporation. And according to Bally’s Corp CEO Soo Kim, “It’s business as usual.”

So what does this mean? According to the Las Vegas Business Journal, which has been the best source of information regarding the proposed A’s relocating to Las Vegas, Kim (who managed the hedge fund) bought out Bally’s in an announced $4.6 billion deal.

With this deal, Bally’s owns the rights to develop the 35-acre Tropicana site. Thursday’s announcement moved the A’s closer to the potential move, as the Tropicana is now scheduled to be demolished in October.

Bally’s owns the rights to develop the 35-acre site for the proposed A’s ballpark. According to the Las Vegas Business Journal, the A’s are negotiating and finalizing a trio of agreements with the Las Vegas Stadium Authority that would make up to $380 million in public funding available to the team to finance a portion of the stadium’s costs.

Steve Hill, the Stadium Authority Chairman, said last week that he expects the work of those agreements, the development, lease, and non-relocation, to go until about December when they will be approved as the A’s enter into a contract with Clark County.

Once those agreements are approved, the A’s must also spend the first $100 million on the ballpark project before the public money is available. According to the Las Vegas Business Journal, the A’s will likely use just $350 million of the available $380 million in public funds.

Plans call for the construction of the A’s stadium to begin in April and be completed in time for the 2028 MLB season. Meanwhile, the A’s are scheduled to play the interim year of 2025-2027 at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, as their tenure at the Oakland Coliseum ends September 26 against the Texas Rangers.

Like everything in a free enterprise capitalist Democracy, money rules, and like one: “philosopher” said, “money talks and BS walks”. Which is paraphrasing corrupt Democrat Congressman Michael Meyers in the 1980 Abscam probe.

It means, pay me a bribe or go for a walk, i.e., I’m not listening to you. It is similar to the “Pay to Play” corruption scheme in various parts of the country. “Pay to Play” is also why the FBI has investigated the Mayor of Oakland Sheng Thao.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play announcer on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s Edge Angels Winning Game One of a Four Game Series 6-5

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By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s Lawrence Butler goes head first into third base and the throw bounces off his helmet against the Los Angeles Angeles of Anaheim at the Big A on Thu Jul 25, 2024 (AP News photo)

The Oakland A’s (41-63) trailed for a minute in the third inning but recovered not only tying up the game but taking a 6-5 lead which was the final score. After a shaky 2nd inning in which the Los Angeles Angels (45-57) scored five runs, Oakland starting pitcher Ross Stripling reined it back in shutting down Los Angeles through the next 3 2/3 innings.

Game recap: The A’s got a quick start in this game scoring twice in the first inning taking a 2-0 lead. Lawrence Butler continued the great offensive play that has earned him the lead-off position. He doubled in the inning and scored on an Angels throwing error by catcher Logan O’Hoppe taking the early lead 1-0. Oakland would addd to that tally when Brent Rooker hit his 24th home run of the season.

Los Angeles would break this game open in the second inning scoring five runs. Oakland pitcher Ross Stripling walked two runners giving up two doubles, and a couple of singles struggling throughout the inning. He finally got through the inning but the damage had been done. The Angels had taken a 5-2 lead and Oakland would have to fight their way back into this game.

The A’s did indeed fight their way back into the game in the third inning. Again an amazing long ball to the tune of 413 feet from Lawrence Butler with Max Schuemann on base and Oakland was only trailing by a single run 5-4.

The A’s not only tied up this game in the fourth inning but took back the lead. Daz Cameron hit a two run homer out of the yard with Tyler Nevin on base and Oakland had a 6-5 lead. After a shaky second inning, A’s pitcher Ross Stripling really reeled it back in through the third, fifth and sixth innings.

Stripling finished the game going 5 2/3 innings allowing six hits, five runs and two base on balls. He really turned it all around after a rough second inning giving up next to nothing for the rest of his assignment. He gave up a single in the third inning, a three and out in the fourth and fifth innings. He was relieved in the sixth by Scott Alexander who has been a very tough pitcher to face. He got Oakland out of the sixth inning with a runner on base.

With one out, the A’s had the bases loaded and Abraham Toro at the plate. Toro grounded out to first and the A’s had missed a huge opportunity to extend their lead. They were hanging onto the one run lead 6-5 going into the bottom of the eighth inning. Oakland’s Lucas Erceg pitched the eighth inning going three and out and it was on to the top of the ninth.

Oakland had one last chance to score an insurance run in the ninth frame. The A’s left two runners on base and had blown another great scoring opportunity. A’s closer Tyler Ferguson would try to close out this game for Oakland and avoid an Angels’ walk off. Pillar struck out, O’Hoppe struck out and Schanuel flied out and the A’s had won game one of this four game series 6-5.

Game notes: After winning their third series in a row, the A’s traveled down south to take on the Angels at Angel Stadium. Southern California has also been toasty much like Northern California has been and this game was looking at 85 degrees at first pitch.

Oakland played the Angels earlier this week taking games one and two but dropping the third game of the series 8-5 at the Oakland Coliseum. The A’s opened the fourth series with a win by a run difference. Ross Stripling who had been on the IL returned and picked up his second win now 2-9. The Angels will starter Kenny Rosenberg pitched 3.1 innings, allowed six hits and six earned runs in the loss to Oakland.

First pitch for game two will be tomorrow evening at 6:38. Paul Blackburn will be the probable starting pitcher for Oakland after returning from IR and the Angels will assign Carson Fulmer to start.

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