Category: San Francisco Giants

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: 2023 Is the projected year for A’s new ballpark six years from now

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 fieldofdreams.csnbayarea.com artist’s rendition of the outside of an Oakland A’s downtown Stadium situated near Lake Merritt BART

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

OAKLAND–If all goes well, the Oakland Athletics will play at their projected new ballpark (preferable Lake Merritt location) by the year 2023. I know, it is not really “around the corner” but this is the Bay Area and we are famous here for not building sporting venues very quickly. Obstacles for such things are aplenty by the bay. Somebody always finds a way to thwart plans, there is always a group that will tell you that you will be endangering a three billion year-old bird species or that the traffic to the park is going to contaminate our ozone layer much more that currently, or whatever. We are not Atlanta, Texas or Cincinnati, so it should be no surprise that 2023 is the targeted year. Optimistic projections could be maybe as early as 2021, but for that to happen all would have to go very very well. The Lake Merritt, Oakland location is on 13 acres(for the record AT&T Park, San Francisco who will be 18 years old next season is on 14 acres of land), and this new ballpark close to downtown Oakland would have a capacity of 35,000.

Athletics will still be playing at the Oakland Coliseum years after the Raiders inaugurate their new $2 billion stadium on the Las Vegas strip. That is good news for the A’s. I remember when the Giants ownership of Peter McGowan received permission for the construction of their new park, Pac Bell, SBC, ATT Park (the Phone booth). The Giants tried to make Candlestick more fan friendly, which is actually like putting lipstick on a pig. The A’s will be the only team playing at the Coliseum so their leverage to do much more there, while they build their new facility should increase. The City of Oakland always gave the Raiders preference over the Athletics, I remember then President of the A’s Sandy Alderson telling me that many years ago, that is changing now for obvious reasons. The sporting scene in Oakland is changing big time. For once since I can remember, the A’s have the political leverage to become “the team”in Oakland.

One of the best news for the A’s is the Commissioner of Baseball who has said very strongly that the Athletics will be staying in Oakland. Nobody could have made that statement back in 2007, so things are looking up for the Athletics. It would be really nice, if they could vacate the cellar in 2018, and let some other AL West team take ownership of that dreaded fifth place which the Atheltics have leased for the past three consecutive seasons. As optimistic as I am, even in the Bay Area.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the TV Spanish talent for the Angels, the Radio Spanish talent for the A’s and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Power starving SF Giants after Giancarlo Stanton

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Miami Marlins’ Giancarlo Stanton hits a RBI single to score Tyler Moore during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

SAN FRANCISCO–The San Francisco Giants are a “power starving” team. Their big question this winter is to put one or multiple power bats in that lineup. All Star Giancarlo Stanton was healthy this past season, played in 159 games, hit 59 home runs and drove in 132 runs his best season in 8 years with the Marlins. Previous best season was in 2014 when he finished with 37 home runs and 105 RBI. The Giants have shown interest in the Marlins slugger now for a few months, actually there was talk about this in July. Other teams in the hunt for Stanton; Cardinals who need that bat in a difficult division with the Cubs, the Phillies who badly need some excitement dying in the cellar these days and the Texas Rangers, who had a disappointing season are also showing interest. Of course there could be other “mystery “teams involved.

The Marlins now have new ownership and It looks like Derek Jeter and company are looking to unload payroll and re-load with pitching.

Here are some facts: Giants finished 64-98 in last place and hit 128 home runs, last in the National League and #29 in the major leagues among the 30 teams. The Marlins finished #26 in pitching with a 4.82 earned run average.

Giancarlo Stanton is set to make $25 million or more, in each of the next 11 years,(he only made $14.5 this season) with a player option from 2021 to 2027 and a club option for 2028.

For Miami their priority here is more financial than anything else, we are talking about at least $300 million dollars. Stanton is 27 years old, drafted #2 by the Marlins in 2007, grew up in Pacoima, California. His father is Puerto Rican. His parents just like the name Giancarlo, and that is what they named him.

The Marlins need starting pitching, their lineup is formidable, they score a lot of runs, although if Stanton leaves that hole in that lineup his bat will be missed for sure. They have very good players like, Dee Gordon, Marcell Ozuna, J.T Realmuto, Christian Yellich

Would the Giants trade Madison Bumgarner on a package deal or maybe another starter to the Marlins? And yes, Stanton has been plagued by injuries during his career in Miami. On February 20, 2013 he was hit on the face during an intrasquad game in Spring Training by Jose Fernandez. He had problems with his vision (it was a scary injury) but since then he has been relatively healthy.

Giancarlo Stanton is expected to met with owner Derek Jeter after the World Series. By then something might happen and the Giants, who seem to be as of today his preferred destination might have a deal or maybe not. Of course there are other hitters available that would not required that much money. One of them is OF Julio Daniel Martinez (aka J.D. Martinez) who had a great half season with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He is an excellent pure hitter with power and although it will not be cheap, it will not be $300 million.

There are no dynasties these days. Giants had a great run, winning three World Series between 2010 and 2014. Are they just one bat away from contention? I am not convinced. The Western Division of the National League is getting much better by the day, even the San Diego Padres have some young talent there for the future. Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Rockies have gotten much better in recent years. Many questions remain for the Giants even if they would get Stanton, what kind of Matt Moore will show up next season? Is Pablo Sandoval their third-baseman Opening Day? Can they get more speed? Can Melancon stay healthy the whole season?

Derek Jeter is interested in the services of ex-Yankee manager Joe Girardi. Jeter is contacting people he knew inside the NY Yankees organization as he builds his Miami Marlins.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the MLB Hispanic Heritage Museum in San Francisco and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: The 1989 Earthquake World Series 28 Years ago today October 17,1989 October 17, 2017

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photo courtesy of sportsnaut.com: Oakland A’s outfielder Jose Canseco (33) with then wife Esther Canseco to Canseco’s right teammate Carney Lansford (4) with son

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

Today is the 28th anniversary of this momentous event. Do you remember where you were?

I was at a small auxiliary broadcast booth next to the roof of Candlestick Park doing the pregame show on radio for Game 3 of the World Series, when the quake happened. Out station (KIQI 1010AM) went off the air right away. Bob Self, our engineer, tapped me in the shoulder within seconds to signal me “we are off the air”. Bob is now retired living in Colorado.

Evelio Areas Mendoza, was my partner in the broadcast booth, we both left walking down to the main press box. Some reporters were trapped in the elevator. First media report of what has happened I saw at the Candlestick Park Press box on KPIX CH 5 (CBS Bay Area) with news anchor Ana Chavez. It took me until midnight to make it home to Fremont, the Bay Bridge was closed and I had to drive Evelio first to his home in San Francisco and then I drove south to take the Dumbarton Bridge back home. When I went to SF to drop Evelio, I also stopped at my parents place in the Mission District.(Evelio Area Mendoza, passed away a few years ago) My mother and father were fine, but very nervous, I remember most of the mess in their dinning room, the china that fell to the floor and broke as well as other stuff. On a service station just outside Candlestick Park saw A’s star Jose Canseco fueling his car, he was still wearing his uniform. And much more other craziness of that afternoon and night. I felt very lucky, Candlestick Park shook for a few seconds but it seemed like it was very long. First reports were that it was a strong 7.1 magnitude earthquake, later it was downgraded to 6.9, still considered a strong earthquake. I remember talking to other media outlets, print and electronic in the Bay Area, and outside the area, about the experience.

In history:

On October 17, just minutes before the start of Game 3, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck the Bay Area causing significant damage to both Oakland and San Francisco. Candlestick Park in San Francisco suffered damage to its upper deck as pieces of concrete fell from the baffle at the top of the stadium and the power was knocked out. The game was postponed out of concerns for the safety of everyone in the ballpark as well as the loss of power, with MLB Commissioner Faye Vincent later saying that he did not know when play would resume. The series resumed on October 27 and finished the next day. The October 28 finale set a record for the latest finish to a World Series at the time. The 1995 World Series played at the end of that strike shortened and delayed season, also finished on October 28; those two series have since been surpassed by both the 2001 World Series and 2009 World Series both of which concluded on November 4 of those respective years; the 2001 season was delayed in finishing due to 9/11–related postponements while the beginning of the 2009 season was postponed due to the World Baseball Classic.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez formerly did Spanish radio for the San Francisco Giants and is the Oakland A’s Spanish radio talent and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

 

 

Sandoval ends season with a walk-off home run Giants win 5-4

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San Francisco Giants’ Pablo Sandoval celebrates after hitting a walk off home run against the San Diego Padres in the ninth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-What a great way to end a nightmare season than with a walk-off home run from Pablo Sandoval.

Johnny Cueto went five innings, allowing four runs on 12 hits, while striking out two; however, it was a Sandoval walk-off home run that gave the Giants a come-from-behind victory to give the Giants a 5-4 victory over the San Diego Padres.

This was the first walk-off for Sandoval since May 21, 2013 against the Washington Nationals at AT&T Park.

The Padres jumped out to a 2-0 lead before the Giants even came to the plate, as Erick Aybar doubled in Travis Jankowski, who led off the game with a double of his own. After a Carlos Asuaje single, Yangervis Solarte drove in Aybar.

Sandoval got the Giants within one run, as he grounded out to Solarte at first to score Buster Posey, who doubled to lead-off the bottom of the second inning.

Hunter Renfroe extended the lead back up to two runs in the top of the third inning, as he belted his 26th home run of the season.

Jankowski gave the Padres 4-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning, as he singled in Luis Perdomo, who hit his fourth triple of the season to lead-off the inning.

The Giants began to cut into the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, as Brandon Crawford doubled to score Denard Span. Following an out from Sandoval, Jarrett Parker singled to score Posey.

Nick Hundley then tied up the game with a force out to score Crawford, and that would be the score until Sandoval’s heroics in the bottom of the ninth inning.

A quartet of relievers that included Ty Blach, Stephen Okert, Cory Gearrin and Hunter Strickland did not allow a hit and just two walks.

Luis Perdomo pitched seven innings, allowing four runs on seven hits, walking one and striking out four and ended the season with a record of 8-11.

With the four triples, Perdomo became the first pitcher since Robin Roberts of the Philadelphia Phillies in 1955 to have four triples in a season.

NOTES: Once again, the Giants went over the three million mark in attendance, as they accomplished it for the eighth consecutive season and for the 16th time in the 18 years since moving to AT&T Park.

The 2018 season will open at Dodger Stadium against the Los Angeles Dodgers on March 29.

On this date in Giants history, Brandon Crawford hit a grand slam in the top of the fifth inning, as the Giants would go on to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-0 behind Madison Bumgarner in the National League Wild Card Game. Bumgarner went the distance, and allowed just four hits.

Stratton thrives for spot in 2018 rotation

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Chris Stratton works against the San Diego Padres during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 29, 2017, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-What a nice night for the San Francisco Giants to get some offense, especially with 100 losses looming on the horizon.

Well, with their 8-0 victory over the San Diego Padres, the Giants’ chances to lose 100 games is nil, as the team won their 63rd game against 97 losses.

The 1985 Giants remain the only team in team history to ever lose 100 games in a season, and the next season, the Giants won 79 games and in 1987, they won their first National League Western Division Championship since 1971.

Chris Stratton pitched a great game, as he went 6.2 innings, allowing zero runs on six hits, while walking two and striking out seven and the right-hander finished the 2017 season with a record of 4-4.

Buster Posey got the scoring started in the bottom of the first inning, as he drove in Joe Panik, who singled with one out in the inning. Brandon Crawford then drove in Posey with a single and then Pablo Sandoval made it three run scoring hits in a row, as he doubled in Crawford for the third and final run of the inning.

All was quiet on the Shores of McCovey Cove until the bottom of the fourth inning, when the Giants erupted for four runs to extend their lead up to 7-0.

Panik got the party started in the bottom of the fourth inning, as after Nick Hundley and Stratton made the first two outs of the inning, Hunter Pence began a streak of five straight Giants players to reach base.

It was a big night for Panik, as he went 4-for-5 with two runs scored and a run batted in.

Hunter Pence singled then Panik doubled him in, then Posey hit his second of three doubles to score Panik and then Crawford singled in both Denard Span, who walked and Posey.

The Giants added to their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Posey hit his third double of the night that scored Pence.

All three of Posey’s doubles ended with a run scoring, as the Giants got their biggest run differential win since June 2, when Ty Blach shutout the Philadelphia Phillies 10-0.

NOTES: Matt Cain will make his final start of his 13-year major league career on Saturday afternoon, as he will face Jhoulys Chacin, who is looking for his 14th win of the season.

This will be the 331st and final start for Cain in his career, the second most in San Francisco Giants history behind Juan Marichal who made 446 starts for the Giants.

On the 63rd anniversary of Willie Mays famous catch in Game One of the 1954 World Series, Major League Baseball Commissioner Robert Manfred announced that the World Series MVP Award will be renamed the Willie Mays World Series Most Valuable Player, this is effective with the 2017 World Series.

San Francisco Giants honor Hundley wins Willie Mac Award

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AP File Photo: San Francisco Giants’ Nick Hundley signals to the infielders during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017, in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks defeated the Giants 4-3. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-In his first year with the San Francisco Giants, Nick Hundley was awarded the most prestigious award that the organization gives out.

Hundley received the 37th annual Willie Mac Award, as voted on by Giants players, coaches, training staff, clubhouse staff, the fans and Willie McCovey himself.

The backup catcher is hitting .246 with nine home runs and 34 runs batted in, while appearing in 99 games this season. Hundley started 63 games behind the plate, while 32 of his 69 hits on the season have been for extra bases.

Hundley is the eighth player in the history of the award to win it in his first season with the team, joining the likes of Mark Leiter, Shawon Dunston, Benito Santiago, David Bell, Marquis Grissom, Mike Matheny and Bengie Molina.

Here is a list of all the winners.

1980 Jack Clark

1981 Larry Herndon

1982 Joe Morgan

1983 Darrell Evans

1984 Bob Brenly

1985 Mike Krukow

1986 Mike Krukow

1987 Chris Speier

1988 Jose Uribe

1989 Dave Dravecky

1990 Steve Bedrosian

1991 Robby Thompson

1992 Mike Felder

1993 Kirt Manwaring

1994 None

1995 Mark Leiter

Mark Carreon

1996 Shawon Dunston

1997 J.T. Snow

1998 Jeff Kent

1999 Marvin Benard

2000 Ellis Burks

2001 Mark Gardner

Benito Santiago

2002 David Bell

2003 Marquis Grissom

2004 J.T. Snow

2005 Mike Matheny

2006 Omar Vizquel

2007 Bengie Molina

2008 Bengie Molina

2009 Matt Cain

2010 Andres Torres

2011 Ryan Vogelsong

2012 Buster Posey

2013 Hunter Pence

2014 Madison Bumgarner

2015 Matt Duffy

2016 Brandon Crawford

Javier Lopez

2017 Nick Hundley

San Francisco Giants report: 100-loss mark is still reachable for Giants

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Photo credit: San Francisco Giants (@SFGiants)

By Jeremy Harness

 SAN FRANCISCO–The Giants can make some history this weekend, but it’s surely not the kind they were looking for.

 See, they currently sport a 62-97 record, which is at press time the worst record in the entire major leagues, and they have a three-game series against the San Diego Padres at AT&T Park this weekend to close out the series.

 If you do the math, the Giants have a chance to lose 100 games in a season for the first time in quite some time. The Giants have lost 100 games or more only once in franchise history, as the 1985 team went 62-100.

 It was the year that Jim Davenport was fired in midseason and replaced by Roger Craig and finished sixth in the National League West, back when there were only two divisions in each league.

 If history is any indicator, things could quickly be looking up for the Giants. With Craig no longer the interim manager, the Giants quickly righted the ship the next season, finishing 83-79 and a third-place finish in the division before winning the NL West in 1987.

 In the meantime, however, it is not looking good at all, and the Giants do not want it to be historically bad when Sunday comes to a close.

 What is also coming to a close along with the season on Sunday as Matt Cain’s career. The veteran righty has said that he will retire at year’s end, forgoing free agency as this is the final year of his contract. He will take the ball Saturday afternoon opposite Padres right-hander Jhoulys Chacin (13-10, 3.98 ERA).

 Chacin has won his previous two decisions, including an outing last Saturday that saw him shut out the Rockies over six innings and give up only one hit in the process, walking three and striking out six.

 Cain, meanwhile, will just hope to end his career on a high note before his home fans. He has suffered through a 3-11 campaign with a 5.66 ERA. On May 15, he beat the Dodgers by surrendering only a run on five hits, walking three and striking out five to improve his record to 3-1.

 He has not gotten a victory since. And he may need to pull out some of the old magic to keep his team from going to a historic low.

 

San Francisco Giants Podcast with Michael Duca: Will the Giants lose 100 games this season? Club is three games short of the 1985 team

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San Francisco Giants Starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner (40) throws a pitch during an MLB game between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers on September 23, 2017 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)

By Michael Duca

The San Francisco Giants who need just three more loses to have a 100 loss season they lost their latest game on Wednesday afternoon at Chase Field in Phoenix 4-3 marking their 97th loss for 2017. The Giants return back to San Francisco to end the season at AT&T Park against the San Diego Padres Friday night. the Padres would have to sweep the Giants at home to get them to arrive at exactly 100 loses.

We’ll see, the Giants should be able to win at least one of those three home games. Their shutting down starter Madison Bumgarner to get some rest and starter Jeff Samardijza is shutting it down too. This Giant team will have no ten game winners this year. With Bumgarner he had a great outing in Los Angeles last Saturday night and got the win. While no one is admitting anything the dirt bike injury is always something that’s been brought up as to why Bum will sit this Friday game out. Madison says he feels alright and manager Bruce Bochy said he will skip Bumgarner to start Chris Stratton 3-4. Bumgarner has gone 4-9 but had a respectable ERA of 3.32.

Michael Duca did the Giants podcasts this season for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Diamondbacks walk off Wednesday’s win over Giants 4-3; Cain calls it a career

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Arizona Diamondbacks’ John Ryan Murphy, right, celebrates with teammates, including Jeremy Hazelbaker (41) and Kris Negron (45) as David Peralta, middle, is doused with a liquid after his bases loaded walk scored the winning run against the San Francisco Giants during the ninth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017, in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks defeated the Giants 4-3. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Arizona added to the San Francisco Giants season-long misery Wednesday afternoon at Chase Field, when David Peralta drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth, giving the NL playoff-bound Diamondbacks a 4-3 victory.

J.D. Martinez kick-started the D-Backs rally by leading off the home ninth with a solo home run, his 49th of the season and 29th as a Diamondback since he was acquired from Detroit on July 18.

Martinez also tied MLB’s September home run record with 16, tying the mark Ralph Kiner set with Pittsburgh in 1949. He also picked up run batted in No. 36 for the month, breaking the D-Backs’ previous mark of 35 set by Luis Gonzalez in June 2001.

In the bottom of the ninth, Martinez’s home run was followed by singles by Jake Lamb and A.J. Pollock. Kristopher Negron, pinch-running for Lamb, was thrown out by Joe Panik when Daniel Descalso reached on a fielder’s choice.

After an intentional walk, Pollock scored when John Ryan Murphy also reached on a fielder’s choice. With the bases still loaded, Giants closer Sam Dyson (3-3) walked Peralta, who got the rare RBI walk to drive in Descalso.

Diamondbacks reliever J.J. Hoover (3-1) got the win.

Earlier, Denard Span tripled, doubled and scored twice for San Francisco. Jeff Samadzija had a strong start, with four strikeouts and a walk while allowing one run.

Pablo Sandoval’s first-inning double drove in Span – who led the game off with a triple – with the game’s first run. Panik scored on a Brandon Crawford groundout to give the Giants a 2-0 lead off D-Backs starter Braden Shipley, who lasted 3 1/3 innings.

CAIN HANGS ‘EM UP
Giants veteran right-hander Matt Cain announced that his Saturday start at AT&T Park will be the last of his 13-year career – all with San Francisco.

Cain, 3-11 this season, informed his teammates of his decision in a closed meeting before Wednesday’s game. He debuted with the Giants in 2005, pitched in two of the team’s three winning World Series appearances, and has a career mark of 104-118 with a 3.69 ERA.

The Giants announced they will honor Cain at Sunday’s regular season finale against San Diego on what is also the right-hander’s 33rd birthday. Cain, a three-time All-Star who threw the Giants’ first perfect game ever in 2012, is completing his contract, which had a team option for one more season.

San Francisco Giants Tue game wrap: Martinez, D-Backs bomb Giants 11-4

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Arizona Diamondbacks’ J.D. Martinez watch his grand slam take flight against the San Francisco Giants during the second inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Tuesday, September 26, 2017

The San Francisco Giants got a full taste of what J.D. Martinez is bringing to the NL playoff table for Arizona on Tuesday, as the hot-hitting slugger hit a grand slam, driving in six runs as the Diamondbacks won 11-4.

Martinez has 15 home runs, 35 RBIs, seven doubles and a .414 average in September. He’s hit 28 home runs since the D-Backs acquired him from Detroit before the non-waiver trade deadline.

Overall, Martinez has 103 RBIs on the season, a career high.

In the six-run second inning for Arizona, David Peralta and A.J. Pollock also drove in runs. Giants starter Matt More (6-15) was charged with seven earned runs while failing to last through the second inning.

Diamondbacks starter Robbie Ray (15-5) gave up Tim Federowicz’s two-run homer in the fifth, but had more than enough run support. Ray is scheduled to start Sunday, but D-Backs manager Torey Lovullo is expected to possibly change his status with the playoffs coming up.

Ketel Marte hit a double and a two-RBI triple for the D-Backs. Pablo Sandoval and Joe Panik each drove in a run in the San Francisco seventh.

Pinch-hitter Christian Walker hit a home run in the bottom of the seventh for Arizona,

After the game, Bochy told the media the final three starting pitchers in the regular season will be Chris Stratton, Matt Cain and Johnny Cueto. Saturday’s start may be the last for Cain in a Giants uniform, as chances are likely San Francisco will not pick him up for 2018.

Due to a concussion, Giants first baseman Brandon Belt’s season is over. Bochy said Belt is still undergoing testing.

Right-hander Jeff Samardzija will start the Giants’ afternoon game against Arizona on Wednesday, facing the D-Backs’ Brandon Shipley.