San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor: 49ers voted to practice Thursday after talking over Blake shooting

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(photo from sports.yahoo.com) San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan coaches his team in practice on Thursday. The 49ers nearly called off practice due to the Jacob Blake shooting and racial injustice in America.

On the 49ers podcast with David:

#1 David the 49ers will open their regular season at home on Sun Sep 13th against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara this will be played in front of empty stadium out of safety of the Coronavirus pandemic.

#2 In talking with local restaurants, hotels, and tourism in Santa Clara, San Jose and the South Bay they’ll be taking a hit as no fans will be allowed to attend 49ers games and for the first time they’ll feel the financial pinch of no fans around.

#3 David the 49ers did practice on Thursday  after discussing cancelling due to the Jacob Blake shooting. The 49ers were going to cancel practice but the team decided to run plays and do it and considering cancelling another practice to observe the Blake shooting and racial injustice

David Zizmor does the 49ers podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Headline Sports podcast with London Marq: Emotions raw as players in sports evaluate what to do next; Could sports be cancelled over racial injustice?

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The Tennessee Titans stand united in cancelling their practice on Thursday and today with other NFL teams joining against social injustice and in light of the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha Wisconsin (photo from touchdownwire.usatoday.com)

Headline Sports with London Marq:

#1 On Wednesday night the NBA, MLS, cancelled their games and MLB had six teams cancel their games in the news of the shooting of Jacob Blake of Kenosha Wisconsin. The WNBA took the night off on Thursday.

#2 The NBA players and coaches discussed on Thursday the future of going on and the players feel at this time this is not the right thing to do and go out and entertain while America is suffering from more racial injustice issues.

#3 London the Los Angeles Lakers LeBron James said his emotions are all over the place and Doc Rivers head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers said that he loves the country but the country is not loving him back.

#4 Turning to the MLB, MLB looks as if they will postpone more games like the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants who were scheduled to play on Wednesday and cancelled and rescheduled played a double header on Thursday. Right now it looks as if the players want to get through this season. The New York Mets Dominic Smith gave a very emotional interview saying “no one cares” regarding the racial injustice situation.

#5 The New York Jets and Tennessee Titans had cancelled their practices on Thursday and more teams might be expected to cancel today. Like the Jets and Titans social injustice is on the minds of professional sports right now than playing the game. The NFL released a statement today saying in addition to the Jets and Titans the Packers, Bears, Colts, Cardinals, Broncos and Chargers have all cancelled their practices today.

Join London Marq for Headline Sports each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Dodgers drub Giants with doubleheader sweep, win 2-0 in the nightcap

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–The Giants’ impressive seven-game win streak ran into the Dodgers’ once-in-a-century streak of seven, consecutive division titles on Thursday and it wasn’t much of a battle.

In fact, it was a wipeout as the Dodgers swept, winning 7-0 in the opener and 2-0 in the nightcap. The Dodgers hadn’t posted shutouts in both games of a twin bill since 1971 against the Braves.

So consider the feat–49 years removed from its last occurrence–the halfway point between the two, aforementioned streaks and call it a day.

Manager Dave Roberts felt one shutout set up the other, referencing Clayton Kershaw’s dominant six innings in the opener.

“For Clayton to set the tone in Game 1 obviously gave us a lot of flexibility in Game 2,” Roberts said. “To regroup today, focus on baseball and win two baseball games against a division rival was good.”

The intensity for both clubs at the outset of the afternoon was obvious. Not only was the season series at stake with the rivals tied at four games a piece, the Giants were playing meaningful games late in a season for the first time since 2016. Then Clay Bellinger came up with a pair of highlight catches and Kershaw settled in.

During the second game, that obvious intensity disappeared as the Dodgers seamlessly replaced injured, scheduled starter Walker Buehler with opener Chris Ferguson and six, other relievers in a two-hit gem. Highlighting the Dodgers depth and overall talent, six of the seven pitchers entered the game with earned run averages 1.74 or better, and all six lowered their number as Brusdar Graterol and closer Kenley Jansen were the only two to allow hits, both singles to Belt.

The Dodgers only managed three hits, but one was Joc Pederson’s solo shot in the second, and another Will Smith’s RBI double that scored Pederson in the fourth.

Kevin Gausman enhanced his perceived trade deadline value by pitching into the fifth, allowing three hits, two walks and both Dodgers’ runs.

Mike Yastrzemski and Donovan Solano went hitless after collecting a hit a piece in the opener. The Giants’ MLB second-best runs per game average at home took a hit during the scoreless afternoon. The Giants were averaging 6 1/2 runs per game at Oracle Park coming in.

The Dodgers improved to 24-9 on the season, and increased their lead in the NL West over the Padres to five games. The Giants fell to fourth place at 15-18.

Dodgers, Kershaw bring Giants’ seven-game streak to a halt, win 7-0 in doubleheader opener

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Bookmark the Clayton Kershaw-Brandon Belt matchup as today’s barometer for success… or failure.

After the Dodgers and Giants took Tuesday night off in a historic and emotional occasion of social activism, pitching and hitting returned in a big way with the Giants trying to extend their seven-game, offense-fueled win streak against Kershaw, the most successful starting pitcher of the last decade, and by far, the guy the Giants and Belt least like to see on the mound.

Now the numbers available to both managers prior to the first game of the unique, seven-inning doubleheader.

Belt, in one of the finest, offensive showings in his career (9 plus seasons) had four hits, including two homers, a double in the Giants’ epic 10-8 win over the Dodgers in 11 innings on Tuesday.

Kershaw has owned Belt, allowing the slugger four hits and four walks, no home runs in 60 career at-bats, 29 of which concluded in a strikeout.

Manager Gabe Kapler didn’t flinch. He penciled Belt into the sixth spot in his lineup, a nod to Belt’s 16 hits and .571 batting average over his last nine games. Wilmer Flores, Kapler’s less edgy option to start at first base, found his way to lineup as well, playing second base and batting second.

Against Kershaw–rounding into form after a rough start against the Giants at Dodgers Stadium earlier in the month–none of Kapler’s lineup mechanics worked.

Kershaw gave up hard hit balls to both Belt and Flores in their initial at-bats only to see centerfielder Clay Bellinger come up with spectacular catches both times. From there, Kershaw cruised, pitching six, scoreless innings in a 7-0 shutout that left the assembled cutouts speechless.

Kershaw owns the Giants, winning for the 24th time in 49 starts, while his ERA against the Giants dropped to 1.76. Needing seven strikeouts to reach 2,500 in his career, Kershaw registered just four, evidence that as his velocity has decreased, his craftiness has expanded.

Belt finished 0 for 3 with a strikeout, and Flores was 1 for 3 as no Giants hitter was afforded more than three opportunities in a seven-inning game. Joey Bart was hitless as well, striking out all three times, the first time swinging on top of Kershaw’s slider, the second time frozen as the pitcher’s curve dropped in.

The Dodgers kept the fireworks to a minimum with their bats, pushing across a run in the first, and four more in the fourth. Austin Barnes came up with the biggest hit, a double chasing home Chris Taylor and Joc Pederson.

A.J. Pollock’s two-run shot in the seventh concluded the scoring.

Logan Webb suffered the loss as he was unable to replicate his strong start against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. Webb pitched into the fourth inning, allowing four hits, two walks and five earned runs.

A’s game with Rangers postponed bringing awareness in the Blake shooting

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The Oakland A’s statement regarding their postponing Thursday’s game vs. the Texas Rangers at Arlington on Thu Aug 27, 2020 (@Athletics) 

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s notified the Texas Rangers that the team would not play Thursday afternoon. The team voted to bring awareness to the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last Sunday. Three other games were also postponed. The Phillies-Nationals, Red Sox-Blue Jays, and the Twins-Tigers joined the other teams protesting systemic racism in America. The A’s statement is below:

“We will not take the field tonight to help raise awareness for these social issues, not just tonight, but for our collective future.”

The A’s discussed not playing Wednesday’s game, as a handful of MLB teams had done, but they ultimately decided to play because the discussion occurred too close to first pitch.
“It was really close to game time,” manager Bob Melvin said after the A’s 3-1 win Wednesday. “And we decided to play. I did give the option for anybody who did not feel comfortable playing not to play.”

First pitch was originally scheduled for 5:37 p.m. at Globe Life Field. The Rangers statement is as follows:

“We respect the decision by the Oakland A’s players to postpone tonight’s game. We stand with all those who condemn racial injustice and are committed to helping bring about an end to systemic racism,” said the Rangers organization in a statement.

The game will be rescheduled as part of a doubleheader on Sept. 12 when the A’s are scheduled to return to Arlington.

Major league baseball, The NBA, WNBA, NHL have all had teams postponing their games. As a society, we have come along way since the San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who took a knee to protest racism in 2016.

The killing of George Floyd was the match the lit the fuse. The shooting of Jacob Blake added fuel to the flame. It is time for the United States to end systemic racism in all settings. The time is now.

Aces-Storm postponed along with two other WNBA games

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Untitled

The WNBA has postponed all three scheduled games today including Chicago vs Indiana, Dallas vs New York and Las Vegas vs Seattle.

Along with postponing Wednesday’s game, the WNBA is fully behind addressing the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, WI this past weekend, along with all violence against Black women and men.

The Aces released a statement today in support of the movement.

“Today, our league takes a moment to reflect, recommitting itself to engage, to educate, to amplify and to speak for those who can no longer speak.”

The WNBA will reschedule all postponed games at a later time.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitleberg: Bassitt goes after win number 3; Melvin gives players the option to opt out due to racial injustice

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The Oakland A’s will be starting pitcher Chris Bassitt today at 3:37pm against the Texas Rangers as Bassitt looks to pick up his third win of the season. Bassitt is seen here throwing against the LA Angels on Mon Jul 27, 2020 ( file photo from AP News)

On the A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 Jerry do you agree that the A’s should stand pat and stay with what they got as the trade deadline nears this Monday?

#2 The A’s have one of the strongest bullpens in baseball in a short baseball season a lot of saves can get you into a good position to keep your lead in the division.

#3 Talk about catcher Jonah Heim he got his first big league hit on Tuesday night against Texas Rangers. Heim who got called up this week said he was shocked when the call came and in the line up Tuesday night.

#4 Heim found out he was in the starting line up when manager Bob Melvin grabbed him and had Heim look at the line up card which had his name on it for his first big league start.

#5 The A’s conclude the four game series today at 3:37pm the starting pitchers for the A’s RHP Chris Bassett (2-1 ERA 2.97) for the Rangers RHP Jordan Lyles (1-3 ERA 9.25) Jerry how do you see this match up.

Jerry does the A’s podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Behind the Dodgers and Giants joint decision to cancel Wednesday’s game

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–The momentum moving through the sports world Wednesday was swift and wide-ranging. In Lake Buena Vista, Florida, the Milwaukee Bucks decided not to take the floor for Game 5 of their NBA Playoff versus Orlando. The other four NBA teams on the schedule soon followed suit. Then the WNBA, MLS, tennis champion Naomi Osaka, the Milwaukee Brewers and three other MLB teams cancelled their scheduled games and events.

At Oracle Park, the conversations started with Mookie Betts texting family members who informed Betts that several teams and players were not playing in protest of the shooting of Jacob Blake by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The Dodgers superstar was preparing to play in Wednesday night’s Dodgers-Giants game. After the texting, he changed his mind, informing his teammates and manager that he would be sitting out.

“I can’t play,” Betts said.

Clayton Kershaw, the team’s senior member and a vocal critic of inequality and police brutality, questioned whether the rest of the team should play without Betts. Kershaw, the scheduled starting pitcher Wednesday was soon in agreement with manager Dave Roberts, reliever Kenley Jansen and Betts: the Dodgers were not going to play.

“We made a collective group decision to not play tonight, to let our voices be heard for standing up for what we believe is right,” Kershaw said. “That’s what it comes down to.”

The Dodgers never took the field for batting practice. The Giants did, but the conversations were taking place, most importantly between team president Farhan Zaidi and manager Gabe Kapler. Last month, Kapler made headlines by being the first MLB manager to kneel during the playing of the national anthem.

Soon those talks included GM Scott Harris and team player rep Tony Watson. Other Giants warming up spoke in small groups. Batting practice was cut short and the team retreated to their clubhouse.

Shortly after 6pm an announcement was made: the Giants were in agreement. They also would not play Wednesday night.

“Some things I think are just bigger than sports, and I don’t think it should require athletes needing to boycott playoff games to remind us Black lives matter and that police brutality is unacceptable and that systemic racism needs to be eliminated,” Kapler said. “What I believe in most is speaking out and taking strong action based on your beliefs. I’m aware that the Bucks and now some other NBA teams are doing that, and I have the utmost respect for the players who are refusing to be silent about issues that are bigger than sports.”

Shortly before the scheduled first pitch at 6:45pm, the teams released a joint statement:

“Throughout our country’s history, sport has been a powerful vehicle towards change. The Dodgers and Giants proudly join our players in the shared goal for a more equitable and just society.”

Roberts, the first African-American manager in the history of the Dodgers also spoke about the postponement.

“Black athletes right now to make a stand and choose not to play tonight is one thing,” Roberts said. “But Black people been fighting this fight for centuries. And for the white brothers to come in and support the Black men in this game, it’s much more powerful.”

Betts is the only African-American player currently on either teams’ rosters, reinforcing the universal condemnation of the events in Wisconsin, and police brutality in its total scope, including the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor.

In all, only the NHL completed its full schedule on Wednesday. Several MLB games went off as scheduled, but games involving the Reds and Brewers, and the Mariners and Padres were called off. Also several black players pulled out of games that were played. That list included the Cubs’ Jason Heyward, the Cardinals’ Dexter Fowler and the Rockies’ Matt Kemp.

The teams have announced they will make up the game on Thursday, as part of a doubleheader that starts at 1:05pm. Both games of the twin bill are scheduled for seven innings.

 

A’s have just enough offense to beat Rangers 3-1

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The Oakland A’s Ramon Luareano scores on a wild pitch in the top of the sixth inning for a 2-1 A’s lead at Globe Life Stadium in Arlington on Wednesday night against the Texas Rangers (photo from sports.yahoo.com)

By Jerry Feitelberg

As people know, baseball is a strange game. One night the ball is flying out of the park. The next night, hits are hard to come by. On Wednesday night at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, the A’s struggled to put runs on the board.

The Rangers’ young lefty, Kolby Allard, did not allow a hit for the game’s first five innings. Somehow, in the top of the sixth, the A’s put two runs on the board with just one hit. The A’s starter, Mike Fiers, also pitched well. Fiers went six innings and allowed three hits and one run, which was unearned. The A’s added a run in the eight to win 3-1.

The Rangers scored an unearned run in the bottom of the third. With one out Shin-Shoo Choo singled. Fiers walked Rangers’ first baseman Danny Santana to put men on at first and second. The Rangers attempted a double steal. A’s catcher Sean Murphy’s throw to second sailed in centerfield, allowing Choo to score. The Rangers lead 3-1 after three.

Allard, who had been fantastic for the first five innings, lost his mojo in the top of the sixth. With one out, Allard walked Marcus Semien and Ramon Laureano. Stephen Piscotty, hitting third, singled to drive in Semien to tie the game.

Allard Walked Mark Canha to load the bases. Rangers’ manager Chris Woodward, brought in Luis Garcia to pitch. With Matt Olson at the plate, Garcia uncorked a wild pitch. Laureano scored to give the A’s the lead 2-1. It was a strange inning. It featured four walks, a single, and a wild pitch.

The A’s added an insurance run in the top of the eighth. Three straight singles by Piscotty, Canha, and Olson loaded the bases with no out. Rangers’ reliever Jonathan Hernandez hit Robbie Grossman with a pitch to drive in Piscotty.

Joakim Soria, Jake Diekman, and Liam Hendriks each pitched an inning. The relievers did not allow a hit as the A’s won 3-1

Game Notes- With the win, the A’s are now 22-10 for the year. They lead the second-place Houston Astros by four and 1/2 games in the race for the AL West division crown. The Rangers are now 11-19.

Liam Hendriks recorded his tenth save of the year. Fiers improved to 4-1.
The game featured a lot of strikeouts and walks. Neither team hit a home run. The A’s hitters struck out eleven times and received six walks. The A’s pitchers struck out twelve and issued three walks.

Khris Davis continues to struggle at the plate. Davis has not regained the form that he had in his first three seasons with Oakland. The slugger is hitting just .158 for the year. Ramon Laureano’s woes continue.

Laureano’s average dropped to .208. Matt Chapman almost had the night off. Chappie, who struck out three times in each of the first two games with the Rangers, was on the bench Wednesday night.

Chappie escaped a severe injury Tuesday night when he was hit with a pitch. As Chappie turned to get away from the pitch, the ball hit his batting helmet bill. A’s manager Bob Melvin inserted him into the game in the ninth as a defensive replacement. Chappie made a great defensive play to end the game. He made a bare-handed stab of a slow roller and his throw to first retired Nick Solak for the final out.

The A’s line was three runs, five hits, and one error. The Rangers’ line was one run, three hits, and their defense committed three errors.

The A’s and Rangers meet Thursday again at Globe Life Field. The game will start at 3:37 pm. Chris Bassitt (2-1, 2.97 ERA) will pitch for Oakland. Jordan Lyles (1-3, 9.25 ERA) goes for the Rangers.

Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria: NBA games cancelled in light of Blake shooting; Some key injuries at Raiders camp

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The Milwaukee Bucks cancelled their game with the Orlando Magic in light of the Jacob Blake shooting in Wisconsin and two other playoff games also were cancelled in light of racial injustice shooting of Blake from Kenosha Police (espn.com still)

Headline Sports podcast with Tony R:

#1 The Milwaukee Bucks who did not play the Orlando Magic and two other games the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers all were postponed due the recent Kenosha police shooting of Jacob Blake who was videoed being shot seven times in the back and reported to be paralyzed by his family member.

#2 Tony the Boston Celtics and the Toronto Raptors are now considering cancelling game one of their best of seven series Thursday which is schedule for a 3:00 pm tip. Raptors coach Nick Nurse said the players are deeply disappointed that the same thing happens again in a short period of time.

#3 Tony one NBA veteran who not named said that the entire NBA playoffs are in jeopardy and the whole thing could be squashed. The players not only want to send a message but some question how they could go on after what happened to Blake.

#4 Tony talk about Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Marcus Mariota who has suffered shoulder and ankle injuries and has not practiced with the team yet. How badly is Mariota hurt and can he make it back?

#5 Also Tony the Raiders are missing  wide receiver Tyrell Williams who has a shoulder injury and cornerback Trayvon Mullen unknown injury Wednesday was the sixth time they missed a shoulder padded practice and how important are these guys to the team.

Join Tony every other Thursday for Headlines Sports at http://www.sportsradioservice.com