Category: San Francisco Giants

Tony Renteria on Headline Sports: Durant continues to lead Warriors scoring; McCutchen catching onto being the face of the Giants; Ex-49er cut by Colts

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photo from sfgate.com: San Francisco Giants outfielder Andrew McCutchen takes the field on Wednesday February 28 at Scottsdale Stadium in Arizona

Headline Sports with Tony Renteria:

1 Golden State Warriors Kevin Durant has led the Warriors in scoring time and time again and did so once again with a 32 point game as Golden State continues to roll with a 109-101 victory over the Washington Wizards

2 Tony sees the addition of Andrew McCutchen as a benefit to the San Francisco Giants line up and will he be the face of the Giants this season

3 Ex-49er Frank Gore is now an ex-Colt the Colts decided not to exercise his option and extend him. Gore 34 will go shopping to sign with another club

4 Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden says he is going to shake up the Raiders roster and Tony explains what holes he will need to fill

5 The San Francisco 49ers Ruben Foster looks like he’s in a boat load of trouble. Foster whose facing domestic violence charges and is accused of dragging his girlfriend by the hair out of his house might be either be suspended or released from the 49ers as the case is under investigation.

Tony Renteria does Headline Sports each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Sports Headlines with Tony Renteria: Olympic highlights; Cueto to miss practice due to flu symptoms; A’s Stewart back as guest instructor; plus more

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photo by flickr John Morgan: Former A’s pitcher Dave Stewart returns as an Oakland A’s guest instructor this spring working with the A’s pitching staff

On the Sports Headlines Podcast with Tony:

1 The Olympics has brought a little or a lot of something what has been Tony favorite highlights?

2 San Francisco Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto will not be throwing as he’s day to day with a fever or flu symptoms according Giants medical doctors. Team doctors have emphasized rest

3 Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval is back in camp and one of the primary reason San Francisco brought him back was for his clubhouse presence and his experience for the younger players

4 Former Oakland A’s pitcher Dave Stewart is back in uniform and is helping A’s manager Bob Melvin as a guest instructor. Stew brings a lot of experience that the younger players can learn from.

5 What’s it like to not have another season of Sebastian Janokowski former Oakland Raiders place kicker who was released by the team on Wednesday, was it his age, his bad back, or at 40 years old was it just time to go?

Tony Renteria does Sports Highlights each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s Podcast, News, and Commentary: McCutchen expected to play right field; brought in to provide punch in the lineup

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Photo credit: @TheCUTCH22

On Amaury’s Podcast:

Andrew McCutchen comes to the San Francisco Giants after hitting .279, 27 home runs, 88 RBIs, in 156 games last season.

The Giants settled their third base issues with acquiring Evan Longoria from the Tampa Bay Rays. Now McCutchen will play right field for the Giants. McCutchen’s age 31 might be a reason that he will won’t play center his old position and that playing right will allow him to cover less ground in the outfield than center field in a larger landscape like AT&T Park.

McCutchen was sent from Pittsburgh his contract ends at the end of the 2018 season. Giants Executive vice president Brian Sabean said that the Giants were looking to bring someone on board with a good track record McCutchen who has start status could bring that hope for San Francisco.

McCutchen’s contract was worth $51.5 million. He was the Pirates’ key player. Why would the Bucs let someone like that go?

Amaury’s podcast bonus: Former Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Tony Taylor is 82 years old hit .261, 2007 hits, 75 home runs, and 598 RBIs career from 1958-1976. Born in Central Alava Cuba.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does the News and Commentary Podcast each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Andrew McCutchen gets traded to the Giants

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

After a disastrous 2017 season that saw the San Francisco Giants finish with a record of 64-98, they needed to reload and they have done just that.

The Giants settled up their third base dilemma, as they acquired perennial All-Star Evan Longoria from the Tampa Bay Rays and they now have a new centerfielder and it is 2013 National League Most Valuable Player Andrew McCutchen, who was acquired by the team from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

McCutchen, who will be a free agent at the end of the 2018 season, was sent to the Giants in exchange for right-handed pitcher Kyle Crick, minor league outfielder Bryan Reynolds and $500,000 in international signing bonus allocation.

“It’s no secret that we were looking to further add run production to our lineup,” said Brian Sabean, Giants executive vice president of baseball operations. “Anytime you have the opportunity to bring aboard someone with such a track record, you have to jump on it.”

During the 2017 season, McCutchen batted .279 with 27 home runs and 88 runs batted in 156 games.

“Andrew is a dynamic player on the field and will be a leader in our clubhouse,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “He’s always been a threat at the plate and he’s a guy you don’t ever want to deal with whether he’s at the plate or on the bases. He’s going to make something happen.

McCutchen is in the final year of a six-year $51.5 million contract that he signed in March of 2012 and following that signing, the Pirates began their resurgence that led them to the postseason in 2014 for the first time since Barry Bonds roamed the outfield for the Pirates in 1992.

Headline Sports Podcast with London Marq: Ohtani sweepstakes heating up; Teams vying for Japanese superstar; Cooper sits with injury and Crabtree out with suspension

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Oakland Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper (89) remains on the ground after being hit against the Denver Broncos during the first half of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)

On the Headlines Sports Podcast with London:

1 The A’s made their bid for Shohei Ohtani who will become a free agent from Japan’s Nippon Ham Fighters. If the A’s can sign someone on the level of Ohtani it would be a huge haul for the A’s can they get him? It’ll be a tough task when other teams will start the bidding in the low $30 millions.

2 It seems like all MLB teams are going after Ohtani this weekend the bidding is expected to pick up

3 If the A’s were to sign Ohtani his 23 year age would be in the age range with A’s third baseman Matt Chapman 24 and A’s pitcher AJ Puk 22

4 Turning to football the 49ers will start quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo for the first time this season. Garoppolo who will throw against the Chicago Bears defense  London goes into how Garoppolo will do and will he score his first win.

5 The Oakland Raiders Michael Crabtree will sit this Sunday amongst the New York Giants after being suspended for fighting and Amari Cooper will be out of the line up as well due to an injury. London takes a look how this will impact the Raiders.

London does Headlines Sports Podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

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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.