Category: Oakland Athletics

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s pitcher Stripling gave it his all in 1-0 loss to Giants

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Oakland A’s starter Ross Stripling pitches in the bottom of the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Jul 31, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 Jeremiah after the San Francisco Giants swept the Colorado Rockies in a four game series the Oakland A’s were next up to face the Giants at Oracle Park in what could have been a team that was steam rolling along. That said the A’s got great pitching in the brief two game series from starter JP Sears on Tuesday night in a 5-2 win and despite losing on Wednesday night 1-0 the A’s starter Ross Stripling pitched an effective game that kept the A’s in it.

#2 Jeremiah, taking a closer look at Wednesday night’s game the A’s faced some tough pitching from Giants starter Logan Webb who went the distance for his third complete game and second shutout of the season.

#3 Jeremiah to give you an idea how effective Webb was he not only threw the shutout but also the game moved right along in a one hour 55 minute special.

#4 Webb just had the A’s line up off balance all night and the A’s hitters who have been doing all along just couldn’t figure out Webb who had them taking and swinging at pitches all night.

#5 Stripling who had lost ten games against his two wins had struggled all season but on Wednesday night he pitched 5 2/3 innings allowing only one earned run which was the only run of the game, didn’t strike out a batter, despite losing the game Striping said this game against his old teammates the Giants was meaningful.

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

A’s goodbye to San Francisco not without a reminder of the deadly event that ultimately led to Oakland’s beloved teams leaving the burdened city

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–If the occasion of the final Bay Bridge series game in San Francisco has you feeling nostalgic, know that a more appropriate mood would be feeling mournful.

On December 2, 2016, in Oakland, 36 people lost their lives in the Ghost Ship fire. And while many point to the wanderlust exhibited by Oakland’s sports teams, others point to the fire, and the microscope it put a troubled, overwhelmed city under, as the reason for Oakland’s sports exodus.

On that night, hundreds attended an illegal warehouse party in the Fruitvale district that was perceived to be an opportunity to highlight the underground Oakland art scene. At 11:20 p.m., a fire broke out on the building’s first floor, trapping dozens who had no obvious way of escape. The fire, attributed later to the overload of the haphazard electrical wiring within the building, was lethal as one escape route was obscured by the smoke.

In the aftermath of the fire and the resulting trial of master tenants, Derick Almena and Max Harris, the tale of illegal subleting within the Ghost Ship was exposed. While average rents in Oakland hovered around $2,000 a month, warehouse tenants were paying Almena and Harris $300 to $600 to live on the building’s first floor, a junky space separated into units by wooden studs, steel beams, pianos and window frames.

The rents collected by the pair and supplemented by illegal parties sustained the space as tenuous but workable home for as many as 20 people. But the element of danger and cloak of secrecy were always present as Almena and Harris maintained there were no permanent residents, and the space was actually a 24-hour art studio. Building inspectors had knowledge of the scheme, as did building owner Chor Ng. But nothing was done to fix the makeshift, electrical wiring that showed constant signs of wear and overloading.

Just two weeks before the fire, building inspectors descended upon the Ghost Ship, only to leave empty-handed and ignorant when no one within responded to their persistent knocking at the front door.

The fire and resulting lawsuits exposed Oakland as a place unable or unwilling to police itself. First, the Warriors executed their plan to leave for San Francisco in 2019, and the Raiders went to Las Vegas in 2020. Meanwhile, the city, hamstrung not only by the devastating fire but blatant crime and chronic homelessness, stood ineffective and powerless as the events leading to the teams’ departures unfolded.

Not being capable of explaining to the public at large what happened leading up to the events of the tragic fire didn’t help.

“I can’t answer how that warehouse slipped through the cracks and that it bypassed our system – or how it bypassed the city’s system,” Oakland fire chief Teresa Deloach Reed said one week after the tragedy. “But everybody is at the table right now trying to figure out what happened.”

Oakland also found itself fumbling to articulate a plan to keep its teams. Now, in 2024, they aren’t any teams left to keep. The A’s are in their final season in Oakland with tentative plans to move to Las Vegas with a curious detour through Sacramento in the works as well. Throughout, Mayors Libby Schaff and Sheng Thao haven’t made Oakland attractive enough or deal savvy. In fact, neither mayor has come close to making Oakland attractive.

The deadliest fire in California’s history since the 1906 Earthquake resulted in Oakland paying $32.7 million to settle a lawsuit brought forth by the families of the victims. Could Oakland consummate a deal to save its teams given that toll?

Financially–and emotionally–the answer has been found to be no.

BAY BRIDGE SERIES NOTES:

After winning 1-0 over the A’s on Wednesday, the Giants are 52-52 in their last 104 games.

Logan Webb pitched up his third complete game, and second, complete game shutout. Webb’s 6.65 ERA in July prior to Wednesday was the second worst of his career with his 6.94 ERA in September/October 2020 his worst.

The A’s are 15-14 in Interleague Play, but just 30-51 against American League opponents.

A’s starting pitchers are 8-3 since the All-Star Break, and finished July 14-8.

Manager Bob Melvin was quick to sense that Webb was settled in the first inning, despite his previous struggles, saying, “As the game went along, he got better and better.”

Melvin also expressed frustration with his team’s offense which managed just four hits along with a game-winning sacrifice fly from Brett Wisely. Melvin said, “It’s a little bit frustrating that we couldn’t do more for Logan.”

Logan Webb shuts out A’s 1-0 in possibly final Bay Bridge Series game in San Francisco

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San Francisco starter Logan Webb deals to the Oakland A’s in the top of the first inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Jul 31, 2024 in the second of the brief two game series (AP News photo)

Wednesday, July 31, 2024

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Oakland Athletics 0 (45-65)

San Francisco Giants 1 (54-56)

Win: Logan Webb (8-8)

Loss: Ross Stripling (2-10)

Time: 1:55

Attendance: 38,668

By Stephen Ruderman

Logan Webb pitched a complete game shutout, as the Giants beat the Oakland A’s by a modest score of 1-0 to salvage a split in this short two-game set. This was Webb’s third complete game and second shutout of the season in Wednesday night’s contest.

After a 5-1 loss to the A’s Wednesday night, the Giants were set to host the A’s and the second and final game of the first leg of the 2024—and possibly final—Bay Bridge Series. This would possibly be the final Bay Bridge Series game ever played at Oracle Park.

Logan Webb had a rough spring training and then got off to a rough start to the regular season. He then got back to his normal self to go to his first all-star game. However, since giving up three runs at the All-Star Game in Arlington, Texas on July 16, he has struggled.

Webb’s struggles appeared to continue into Wednesday night, as the A’s had him on the ropes right away in the top of the first inning. Miguel Andujar and JJ Bleday both singled for Oakland to put runners at the corners with one out.

Webb then settled down. First, he struck Brent Rooker out looking on a beautifully-placed sinker on the outside corner. Then he struck Shea Langeliers looking as well, as Webb got out of the inning unscathed.

Ross Stripling, who pitched for the Giants just last season made the start for Oakland, and he pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the first. Webb followed that up with a 1-2-3 top of the second.

The Giants wasted a leadoff double by Matt Chapman in the bottom of the second, and Webb pitched another 1-2-3 inning in the top of the third. LaMonte Wade doubled with two outs in the bottom of the third, but Heliot Ramos grounded out to end the inning.

Logan Webb got out of a jam unscathed in the top of the fourth, and Stripling threw a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the fourth. Webb then settled down to throw a 1-2-3 top of the fifth.

With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Mike Yastrzemski hit a high towering drive down the right field line that went just foul and into the water. No problem; he later lined a base-hit to right-center field and advanced to third on a base-hit by Marco Luciano. Brett Wisely then got Yastrzemski in with a sacrifice fly to center for the game’s first run.

Webb remained in complete control, as he pitched a scoreless top of the sixth, and a 1-2-3 top of the seventh. Stripling set down the first two men he faced in the bottom of the sixth, but after he walked Chapman with two outs, he was done. T.J. McFarland struck out Michael Conforto to end the inning.

Michael Otanez pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh, and Webb threw a scoreless top of the eighth. Gerardo Reyes walked Wisely to start the bottom of the eighth, but he then retired the side.

Webb was back out for the ninth to try and finish off the shutout. Rooker lined out to Chapman at third base, and Langeliers grounded out to short. Abraham Toro singled to extend the game, and with Giants’ closer Camilo Doval in the bullpen, you couldn’t help but wonder if this would be the end of Webb’s night.

However, Webb had the full confidence of his skipper, Bob Melvin, and Webb got Seth Brown to ground out to second to end it.

It was just a great night for Webb, who gave up five hits; walked just one; and struck out six. He obviously got the win, and Ross Stripling got the loss.

The Giants improve to 54-56 to finish off a 5-1 homestand, and they are four and a half games back of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who now occupy the third wild card spot in the National League.

The Giants will head back out on the road for three in Cincinnati, and four in Washington, D.C. The Giants will have a day off tomorrow, and then they will open a three-game series in Cincinnati on Friday.

Left-hander Andrew Abbott (9-7, 3.38 ERA) will make the start for Cincinnati on Friday. The Giants will go with Blake Snell (0-3, 5.10 ERA). First pitch will be at 7:10 p.m. in Cincinnati, 4:10 p.m. back home in San Francisco.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and A’s will open a three game series at the Oakland Coliseum on Friday night. Starting pitcher for the Dodgers has not been announced by manager Dave Roberts and for the A’s RHP Joey Estes (4-4, ERA 4.92) gets the start with a 6:40pm PT first pitch.

Giants News and Notes:

Bob Melvin won his 1,571st game as a major league manager to tie him with Hall-of-Fame manager Dick Wiiliams for 24th all-time. Melvin has the second-most wins of active managers, trailing former Giants Manager Bruce Bochy, who has 2,145 wins.

Brandon Belt was at the game Wednesday night. Belt played with the Giants from 2011 to 2022, and made an indelible mark on this city and team. He played for the Toronto Blue Jays last season, but he has remained unsigned this season.

Before the game, the Giants had their annual Until There’s A Cure Night, and had a small ceremony on the field prior to the game. Wednesday night was the 30th anniversary of the first-ever Until There’s A Cure Day at Candlestick Park. The Giants will continue to work with Until There’s A Cure, as they attempt to find a cure for HIV/AIDS.

Oakland A’s podcast with Augie Mesenburg: Nothing but homers gets A’s 5-2 win over Giants Tuesday

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Oakland A’s Lawrence Butler (4) congratulates Brent Rooker (25) after Rooker’s two run homer in the top of the fifth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco (Oakland A’s X photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Augie Mesenburg:

#1 The old saying goes good pitching beats good hitting and the way that Oakland A’s (45-64) starter JP Sears pitched against the San Francisco Giants (53-56) pitching shutout ball through seven innings, allowing three hits and striking out nine hitters.

#2 In the top of the second and third innings the A’s were able to scratch out a run in each inning. In the top of the second inning Daz Cameron belted his fifth home run of the season and in the third inning Lawrence Butler homered for his 12th of the year for a 2-0 A’s lead.

#3 The A’s added two more runs in the top of the fifth inning with Brent Rooker hitting a two run homer to left center field for his 26th making it 4-0 and JJ Bleday hit a right field home run for his 14th of the season making it 5-0.

#4 Towards the end of the game the Giants trailing 5-0 made strides to get back in it but fell short but got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the eighth when Derrick Hill hit a ground out to third allowing Marco Luciano to score and Patrick Bailey hit an RBI single to right field in the bottom of the ninth but the Giants would end up short by three runs 5-2.

#5 A’s and Giants conclude this brief two game set on Wednesday night first pitch slated for 6:45pm PT former Giants RHP Ross Stripling (2-9, ERA 6.02) goes against the A’s RHP Logan Webb (7-8, ERA 3.72). Augie how do you see this match up.

Augie Mesenburg is a podcast contributor for http://www.sportsradioservice.com and is a reporter for 1080 KWAI Honolulu

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.