Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: The streak will be one of the key highlights of this A’s season

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Photo credit: @Athletics

On the A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 A’s take their first loss in two weeks after winning 10 straight games in two weeks. An impressive performance during those two weeks.

#2 Talk about some the stars during the streak will start with Mark Canha and all those home runs — some gamers.

#3 Talk about Stephen Piscotty. He’s been struggling at the plate the last two months. Piscotty is hitting .274, but he’s got a consistent on base percentage. Piscotty, who got on base in the fourth inninng Tuesday night, has now got on base 24 times.

#4 Fernando Rodney was designated for assignment last week. No team would pick up his $5.25 million salary. He had an ERA of 9.42.

#5 The Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani was instrumental in the Angels’ win on Tuesday night getting a lined two RBI single to help the Angels get a two-run win over the A’s 6-4.

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

San Jose Earthquakes podcast with Ana Kieu: Wondo’s the man of the hour

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Photo credit: @SJEarthquakes

1. With four goals scored on May 18, Quakes star Chris Wondolowski made a $7,500 deposit to Wells Fargo Goals for Education.

2. Quakes Homegrown Player JT Marcinkowski was added to the US Soccer Combined Preparation Camp.

3. The Quakes edged Toronto FC 2-1 on May 26.

4. The Quakes next play DC United on June 1.

5. Any new updates on the Quakes and Reno 1868 FC?

Ana does the San Jose Earthquakes podcast each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

The Angels ninth-inning rally downs the A’s and snap the A’s 10-game win streak

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By Jerry Feitelberg

The Los Angeles Angels scored two runs in the top of the ninth to topple the A’s 6-4. With the win, the Angels snapped the A’s ten-game win streak. A’s starter Frankie Montas labored through his four innings of work Tuesday night. He threw 96 pitches and walked five, one intentional. The A’s bullpen did its job as they held the Angels scoreless until the fateful ninth inning. In the ninth, A’s reliever, Joakim Soria, retired the first two hitters. He gave up a single to LaStella and was very careful pitching to Angel’s superstar Mike Trout. Trout walked, and that set the stage for Angels’ DH Shohei Ohtani.  On the first pitch to Ohtani, Soria uncorked a wild pitch to advance the runners.  Soria had two strikes on Ohtani and appeared to have struck him out. Home plate umpire, Jame Hoye, called the pitch a ball. Soria told Hoye that he thought he missed the call. Soria still had to retire Ohtani. That did not happen as Ohtani singled to drive in LaStella and Trout. The A’s failed to score in their half of the inning, and they lost 6-4.

The A’s Marcus Semien put the A’s on the board on the very first pitch in the first inning from the Angels’ starter Cam Bedrosian. Semien put a charge into the ball and sent it over the centerfield wall. Bedrosian calmed down and retired the next three hitters. The A’s lead 1-0. It was the first leadoff home run of the year for the A’s and the third in Semien’s career.

The Angels sent ten men to the plate and plated four of them. Frankie Montas struggled as he gave up three walks, one intentional, and four hits. The big blow was a double by Angels’ second baseman Tommy LaStella. The Angels lead 4-1 midway through the second inning.

The A’s put another run on the fifth inning. Centerfielder Ramon Laureano led off the inning with his sixth jack of the season to cut the deficit to two. Laureano also extended his hitting streak to 11 games. The Angels’ pitcher, Nick Tropeano regained his composure and retired the next three batters. The A’s trail 4-2 after five.

The A’s rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth. Matt Chapman led off the inning with a single. Matt Olson followed with his sixth bomb of the ear to bring the A’s back from a 4-1 deficit. The game is tied 4-4 after six.

With two out and no one on in the ninth, the Angels somehow found a way to put two runs on the board. Tommy LaStella singled to get the two-out rally started. Mike Trout walked to put men on at first and second. Soria’s wild pitch advanced the runners to third, and they both scored on Shohei Ohtani’s single. Soria was ejected by the home plate umpire as he was upset with a call that would have given him a strikeout to end the inning. After viewing the replay, it did appear that the umpire did, in fact, miss the call. The Angels lead 6-4 heading into the bottom of the ninth. The A’s failed to score, and they saw their 10-game winning streak come to an end as the Angels prevail 6-4.

Game Notes and stats- Frankie Montas allowed a season-high four runs in four innings, his shortest start of the season. Lefty Wei-Chung Wang made his A’s debut with two scoreless innings and one hit.

The A’s fall to 29-26 while the Angels improve to 25-29. The line score for LA was six runs, seven hits, and no errors. The A’s line was four runs, seven hits, and no errors. The A’s hit three home runs in the game.

The rubber game will be played Wednesday afternoon at 12:37 pm. Daniel Mengden will pitch for Oakland, and the Angels have not yet determined who will start for them.

The time of game was three hours and thirty-two minutes and 13, 060 fans were on hand to watch on a cold evening at the Coliseum.

 

 

 

Giants routed by Marlins 11-3; SF lost 6 straight

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Photo credit: @NBCSGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

Once again, the San Francisco Giants gave up double digits in runs and the game slipped in a nutshell.

Jorge Alfaro and Garrett Cooper each hit three-run home runs, as the Miami Marlins defeated the Giants 11-3 at Marlins Park.

The Alfaro and Cooper three-run blasts were the first three-run home runs by the Marlins during the 2019 season.

This was the third time in four games that the Giants have allowed at least 10 runs in a game, and have lost six in a row.

Over their last four games, the Giants have been outscored 45-11 and are a season-high 11 games under .500.

Joe Panik gave the Giants a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, as he hit the first pitch of the game off of Trevor Richards for a solo home run.

Following the Panik home run, Richards settled down, as he ended up going seven innings, allowing just one run on two hits and the Marlins have won eight out of their last 11 games.

Alfaro blew the game wide open in the bottom of the fifth inning, as he hit a three-run home run and then Cooper put the Marlins in double figures, when he smashed his three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Thru their first 51 games of the season, the Marlins did not hit a three-run home run and ended the night with two.

Rosell Herrera closed out the scoring for the Marlins in the bottom of the eighth inning, as he hit a pinch-hit home run, his first home run of the season.

All of the Marlins first seven runs came with two outs, as the Marlins are now 10-4 since 2017 against the Giants.

Jeff Samardzija lost for the third time in a row, as he saw his record fall to 2-4 on the season. Samardzija gave up a season-high five earned runs in four innings of work, tying his shortest start of 2019.

NOTES: Nick Vincent was forced to leave the game in the bottom of the sixth inning with a trainer.

UP NEXT: Madison Bumgarner heads to the mound on Wednesday, as he looks for his fourth win of the season. Thus far in the month of May, Bumgarner is 2-0 in five starts and on the season, has walked only 13 and struck out 70.

Pablo Lopez will his first ever start against the Giants on Wednesday, as he looks to improve his record up to 4-5. On the season, Lopez is 2-1 with a 1.93 ERA in four home starts during 2019.

NBA Finals/Golden State Warriors podcast with David Zizmor: Do Raptors even have a chance against Golden State?

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photo from wisconsinstatejournal.com file photo: In Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) drives on the Milwaukee Bucks guard Malcom Brogdon (13) in Toronto on May 25th.

On the NBA Finals/Golden State Warriors podcast with Dave:

#1 Much like James Harden of the Houston Rockets, will it be the same challenge for Kawhi Leonard of the Toronto Raptors? Will it be four or five guys versus Leonard? Will Leonard have to do all the heavy lifting?

#2 Is there any chance that this can be a balanced NBA Finals as the Warriors have dominated throughout the postseason? Do the Raptors have any advantage opening up the series at home in Toronto?

David Zizmor does the Warriors podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Bill Buckner Played 22 Years, but Remembered for One Miscue

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Photo credit: @BostonGlobe

Bill Buckner was a very good baseball player. Born in Vallejo, California on December 14, 1949. He died after a battle with dementia on May 27,2019 in Boise, Idaho. Buckner played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, California Angels (now Los Angeles Angels) and Kansas City Royals.

After 22 years in the Major Leagues, the first baseman ended with a solid .289 batting average. Buckner played in 2,517 games and collected 2,715 hits. Buckner also won the 1980 batting title in the National League with the Chicago Cubs batting .324.

Unfortunately, Buckner was always remembered for the costly error during the 1986 World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Mets. I happened to be broadcasting for the old CBS Hispanic Radio Network over 200 Spanish format stations in the US and Latin America alongside veterans Juan Vene and Billy Berroa and international producer Armando Talavera. It was Game 6 at Shea Stadium in Queens, New York at the bottom of the 10th inning when the Mets’ Mookie Wilson hit a grounder that went through Bill Buckner’s legs, allowing Ray Knight scoring from second with the winning run for a Mets’ 6-5 win. The next day, in Game 7 game, the Mets beat the Red Sox 8-5 to win the series. The key play was the one that turned around the series — Buckner’s error.

Baseball is a wonderful game. However, moments, good or bad, will be remembered for many years. After that error, Buckner was not welcome in Boston, home of one of the most passionate fanbases in baseball. There were death threats, and he was persona non grata for many years in that great city.

Although I vividly remember that moment of Game 6 of the 1986 World Series, Red Sox fans that were at Shea Stadium crying, while Mets fans could not be any more pleased, I personally remember Buckner as a very good dependable professional MLB player for over two decades.

You cannot judge a career for one play, however, it unfortunately happens. Remember when Jose Canseco played right field for the Texas Rangers on May 26, 1993 and let a ball hit him in the head and rebounded over the fence for a home run? Yes, that happened, but people should also remember in 1988, Canseco was with the Oakland Athletics and was the first ever 40-40 man when he hit 42 home runs and stole 40 bases en route to the American League MVP. Canseco had a 17-year career with 462 home runs.

However, the Canseco play was during a regular season, Buckner’s play was during a World Series. Though I remember the infamous play, I moreso remember Buckner as a very productive MLB player.

Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O: A’s get the long ball from Chapman and Canha

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photo from sfgate.com: Oakland Athletics’ Matt Chapman, right, is congratulated by Robbie Grossman (8) after hitting a two-run home run off Seattle Mariners pitcher Mike Leake in the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 26, 2019, in Oakland, Calif.

On the A’s podcast with Charlie O:

#1 How annoying in the A’s win streak was that game that was canceled on the count of no rain in Detroit two Sundays ago that very well could have been win number 4 and the A’s could have 11 straight on Monday?

#2 During the Mariners series in Oakland, there was little doubt that the struggle they had with them in Seattle to start the road trip last week was on their minds.

#3 The A’s got off to a shaky start after opening up their season in Tokyo. To go from a regular season line up with a 15-hour time difference and then revert to the preseason. Was that all part of their rough start?

#4 Charlie O, you said this was going to be a good A’s team at sometime this season with all the talent they have here with Canha, Semien, Chapman, Olson, Profar, Laureano, and Phegley, that they were eventually were go to break out the bats.

#5 Mariners manager Scott Servais got tossed for arguing a challenge call in the bottom of the seventh inning that saw Canha slide into second that he felt was an out. Later, the A’s got two runs on M’s shortstop Roenis Elias’ error and Profar later hit a groundout RBI. A’s manager Bob Melvin said he would have argued the umpiring crew waited to long to make a decision on the play.

Charlie O does the A’s podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Welcome back Amaury after two months off from surgery; Amaury talks about A’s win streak

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twitter.com file photo: Amaury Pi-Gonzalez (left) with broadcast partner Manolo Hernandez Douen (right) prepare to call another Oakland Athletics game in Spanish at the Oakland Coliseum.

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury you were out for some two months after one of the longest layoffs in your broadcast career. What was that like being away from the mic?

#2 The A’s are currently on one of the longest streaks they’ve had in recent memory. It’s early, but folks have been talking about that 2002 season when they won 20 straight games

#3 In order to put together a win steak like that, you have to have a lot of things working for you and they’ve been getting timely hitting and long ball help from Mark Canha in place of injured Khris Davis.

#4 The Oakland A’s story has almost overshadowed the Golden State Warriors and their NBA Finals appearance starting in Toronto on Thursday night

#5 Amaury, you covered the Stanley Cup Final three years ago when the San Jose Sharks and Pittsburgh Penguins teed it up, This year, San Jose missed the finals by this much and now it’s going to be the St. Louis Blues and the Boston Bruins. What was it like to be there at a very electric Stanley Cup Final when you got to cover it three years ago?

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez is the Spanish radio voice for Oakland A’s baseball on KIQI 1010 San Francisco, the vice president of the Major League Baseball Hispanic Heritage Hall of Fame Museum, and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Struggling Giants face the inevitable parting of ways with several familiar faces

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By Morris Phillips

Of course, in the season the Giants enter the MLB trade deadline market as unrepentant sellers, a buyers market has developed that could leave the club with few, attractive options for its most desirable assets.

Madison Bumgarner and Will Smith are the biggest names the Giants have to offer. But they will also listen if teams show interest in Tony Watson or Pablo Sandoval. Wishful Giants fans thinking others like Brandon Belt, Evan Longoria or Joe Panik could be dealt for something of value are just being wishful.

Simply, on a team that’s currently 10 games below .500 (21-31) and on pace to lose 95 plus games–again–a market doesn’t currently exist for players who have underperformed or have contracts that can easily be termed an albatross.

So that brings us back to Bumgarner, Smith, Watson and Sandoval. Can any of those four in some combination bring the Giants the youthful, high-level prospects that they desire? That remains to be seen. One thing’s for certain: the offers currently being tossed about aren’t blowing GM Farhan Zaidi out of his office recliner.

The biggest factor in creating interest for any teams looking to off load veteran talent is a buyer’s market that’s robust. And take a look at the current Memorial Day standings, the number of teams that consider themselves contenders for a playoff spot or a World Series title is dwindling fast.

In the American League especially the playoff picture is–like last season–reaching clarity early. The Yankees, Twins, Astros, Rays all seem playoff worthy, and everyone outside of the Red Sox and A’s do not. That leaves one notable club, the Indians, as a likely seller, and in direct comparison to the Giants, Cleveland would appear to have more desirable starting pitchers in Trevor Bauer and Cory Kluber (currently on the injured list) than the Giants do in Bumgarner.

Of the six AL clubs that appear to have postseason resumes, few have holes in their rosters at this time that would force them to consider a big deal prior to the July 31 trade deadline. The A’s, Rays and Yankees especially are currently content to see what pieces they can add from within, as all three have pitchers that could regain their health and be significant additions from the injured list.

The Twins, Astros and Red Sox–at least to this point–haven’t generated many rumors regarding their needs, and while that could change dramatically in the next 60 days, their situations don’t appear to be headed toward a deal for a big ticket item like Smith or Bumgarner.

In the National League, two clubs, the Padres and Phillies, have expressed interest in adding a high level starter or reliever, but two clubs don’t form a competitive buyer’s market. And a deal with the Padres could be disadvantageous to the Giants, who may not be interested in strengthening a divisional rival, even for the short haul.

Another factor looms over the entire trade market, affecting any deals that are consummated, and that is the premium all 30 clubs place on their prospects, as baseball trends heavily toward younger players with controllable deals. Just look around the league, or just look at the Giants’ opponents thus far this season that have visited Oracle Park. Young pitchers are dealing, and youthful sluggers are raking all across major league baseball, and that trend makes it less likely a team will part with a top 100 prospect to add a Bumgarner or a Smith.

Finally, the July 31 trade deadline for the first time is a hard deadline. New rules prohibit any waiver wire trades after that date, limiting the time and circumstances that could trigger a significant trade. While players will still be available after July 31 through the waiver wire, that would only allow a club to shed a hefty salary as opposed to adding a desirable asset.

A’s win their 10th a row, down the Angels 8-5 on Memorial Day

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yahoosports.com photo: The Oakland A’s catcher Josh Phegley (26) rounds third base after hitting his sixth home run of the season gets the congratulations from third base coach Matt Williams (4) in the opening game against the Los Angeles Angels

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — The Oakland A’s continued their winning ways as they beat the Los Angeles Angels 8-5 before 20,409 fans at the Oakland Coliseum on Memorial Day. The A’s Chris Bassitt won his third game of the year. Bassitt pitched five innings and allowed six hits and five runs.

The A’s offense came to Bassitt’s rescue when they came back and propelled the team to a 6-3 lead after five innings of play. A’s manager Bob Melvin relieved Bassitt in the sixth when the Angels rallied to plate two runs. The A’s bullpen shut the Angels’ offense down the rest of the way while the A’s offense was able to put two more runs on the board to secure the win for Oakland.

The Angels scored the first run of the game in the top of the second inning. Future Hall of Fame inductee, Albert Pujols, led off with a single to right. Bassitt uncorked a wild pitch, and Pujols advanced to second. The Angels’ right-fielder, Kole Calhoun doubled to right to drive in Pujols with the run. The Angels led 1-0 midway through the second inning.

The A’s evened the score in the bottom of the third. With one out, centerfielder Ramon Laureano doubled down the left field line. After Josh Phegley struck out, Angels pitcher Trevor Cahill walked shortstop Marcus Semien to put men on at first and second with two out. A’s left fielder, Robbie Grossman, doubled to right field to drive in Laureano with the tying run. The score was knotted up 1-1 after three complete.

The game didn’t stay tied for long. Pujols led off the top of the fourth with his ninth long ball of the year. For Pujols, it was also his 642nd of his illustrious career, and he needs 19 more to pass Willie Mays, who has 660. The Angels plated another run in the inning to take a 3-1 advantage.

The next hitter, Kole Calhoun, followed with his second double of the game. Calhoun advanced to third on Angels third baseman David Fletcher’s single. The Halos’ left fielder, Brian Goodwin hit a sharp ground ball back to Chris Bassitt. Calhoun, running on the play, was caught in a rundown and tagged out at home by A’s first baseman Matt Olson. Fletcher went to third, and Goodwin ended up on second with a fielders’ choice.

Bassitt hit Dustin Garneau to load the bases. LA shortstop Luis Renigfo drove in Fletcher with a sacrifice fly to left. The Angels now led 3-1. In the A’s half of the fourth, Jurickson Profar homered with a man on board to knot the score at 3-3.

The A’s sent Cahil to the showers in the bottom of the fifth when they put three more runs on the board to take a 6-3 advantage. Josh Phegley continued his hot hitting as he led the frame with his seventh dinger of the year. The other two runs were driven in by Stephen Piscotty.

Grossman had his second double of the day and moved to third on Matt Chapman’s single. Chapman advanced to second on a wild pitch. Both scored on Piscotty’s single. Cahill’s line for the day was 4 1/3 innings of work. He allowed six runs on six hits.

The Angels finished Bassitt’s day in the sixth inning. The Halos started the rally with a walk to Kole Calhoun. Fletcher followed with a double into the left-field corner that allowed Calhoun to score from first base. A’s manager Bob Melvin had seen enough, and he replaced Bassitt with Yusmeiro Petit.

Brian Goodwin greeted Petit with a single to center to drive in Fletcher with the Angels’ fifth run. Melvin brought in lefty Ryan Buchter to pitch to the left-handed hitter, Tommy LaStella. Buchter did the job as he struck out LaStella to end the inning. The A’s still lead 6-5 midway through the sixth.

With two out in the bottom of the seventh, Matt Chapman blasted his 14th homer into the seats in left field to pad the A’s lead to 7-5. The Angels asked for a review, and it took just 25 seconds to confirm that Chapman’s blast was a home run.

The A’s plated another run to increase the lead to three in the bottom of the eighth. Stephen Piscotty led off with a double and scored on Mark Canha’s single. The A’s owned an 8-5 advantage heading into the ninth. The A’s closer, Blake Treinen, ended the game by striking out Mike Trout to end the game. The A’s win their tenth in a row.

Game Notes and Stats: Chris Bassitt went five innings and allowed a season-high five earned runs. He has pitched at least five innings in six of his seven starts this season. He also hit two batters for the first time since August 21st, 2015.

Robbie Grossman hit two doubles off Trevor Cahill and is hitting .583 against the big righty in his career. He is also hitting .333 ( 8-for-24) with runners in scoring position this season.

A’s catcher Josh Phegley has seven home runs and 32 RBI in 42 games this year. He hit five home runs and had 25 RBI in 96 games over the previous two seasons. Stephen Piscotty had a single and double and drove in two runs. Piscotty has reached safely in his last 23 games, which is the longest active streak in the majors and ties the longest of his career (May 31 to June 26, 2018).

Mat Chapman was 2-for-four with a home run. He has homered in three consecutive games for the second time in his career.  He is batting .344 (11-for-32) with four home runs and eight RBI over his last eight games. Ramon Laureano singled to extend his hitting streak to ten games.

Bassitt improved to 3-1 for the A’s, and Cahill dropped to 2-5. The A’s are now 29-25 for the year, and the Angels fall to24-29.

The line score for the game for Oakland was eight runs, ten hits, and no errors. The Angels’ line was five runs, nine hits, and no errors.

Up Next: The A’s will send Frankie Montas (6-2, 2.40 ERA) to the hill Tuesday night. The Angels have not announced their starting pitcher. Game time will be at 7:07 PM on Tuesday at the Oakland Coliseum.