My Memories of the 2007 Futures Game

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By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — It is hard to believe that it has been nearly 11 years since AT&T Park hosted their only All-Star Game.

Yes, it will be best remembered for Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners hitting the inside-the-park home run, as the American League defeated the National League 5-3 before a crowd of 43,965 at AT&T Park.

Just two days prior to the Midsummer Classic, the Minor Leaguers were on Center Stage, or the baseball field, as they showed off their skills under San Francisco Giants legend Orlando Cepeda and Dave Winfield, who was born on the same day (October 3, 1951) that Bobby Thomson hit “The Shot Heard Round the World” home run off of Ralph Branca to give the New York Giants a 5-3 victory over the Brooklyn Dodgers that propelled the Giants to the World Series, where they lost to the New York Yankees.

There were some notable players on the field on that Sunday afternoon in July of 2007 that have made a big splash on the game since then.

Joey Votto, who would go onto win a National Most Valuable Player Award for the Cincinnati Reds, hit a home run for the World Team off of future Boston Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz, as the World team defeated the U.S. team 7-2.

Clayton Kershaw, a multi-time Cy Young Award winner for the Los Angeles Dodgers gave up a home run to James Van Ostrand to give the World team a commanding 6-2 lead in the top of the seventh inning.

“I took a good swing and got a good pitch to hit,” Votto said. “It was a fun day. I had a good time. I just had an awesome timeplaying with all these guys. I love playing with these guys. Playing against the U.S. team was just fun. Great stadium and thefans were awesome.”

Justin Upton put the U.S. on the board, as he hit a solo home run off of Faustino De Los Santos in the bottom of the third inning.

Jacoby Ellsbury, who played in six games for the Boston Red Sox prior to getting sent to the minors on the Friday prior to the game replaced Cameron Maybin of the Detroit Tigers, who was unable to play due to an injury.

“It’s been a crazy week,” Ellsbury said. “It means a lot tome to play with these guys. There are a lot of guys who will be inthe big leagues in the near future.”

There were players with Giants ties then and now, as current Giants third baseman Evan Longoria played for the U.S. team, as he represented the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and outfielder Gorkys Hernandez played for the World team, as he was a member of the Detroit Tigers organization and was later named the Midwest League Most Valuable Player, while playing for the West Michigan Whitecaps.

Both Brian Bocock and Henry Sosa played in the game, as they represented the Giants’ organization. Bocock and Sosa played for San Jose that season.

ESPN.com contributed to this story.

A’s take on the Indians for a 3-game series starting Friday

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By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s are playing their best baseball so far this the season. They went 8-2 on their last 10-game road trip and finished their five-game homestand with a 4-1 record Two of the wins came at the expense of the Cleveland Indians last weekend in Oakland. Neither Carlos Carrasco or Corey Kluber pitched last weekend, but they are getting the call as the Indians will be trying to slow down the A’s express train.

Friday’s game will feature Carrasco going against the A’s Paul Blackburn. It will be Carrasco’s first start since going on the DL after a line drive hit his throwing elbow on June 16th. The A’s will counter with Paul Blackburn, who beat Cleveland last Friday night as he went 6 1/3 innings and did not allow a run. Blackburn is 2-2 and has a 6.46 ERA. Carrasco is 8-5, and has a 4.24 ERA. Carrasco was 18-6 in 2017.

On Saturday, A’s veteran right-hander Edwin Jackson will make his third start of the season. Jackson has allowed two runs or fewer in both his starts and he recorded a win over the Tribe last Saturday in 6 2/3 innings of work. He will have to be on the top of his game as his opponent will be two-time Cy Young award winner Corey Kluber, who is having another outstanding season as he owns a 12-4 record.

Sunday’s game will feature A’s Frankie Montas going against Indians’ Shane Bieber. Montas is 4-2, but he has given up eight hits or more in three of his last four starts and took the loss Sunday. The Indians blasted the A’s 15-3, and Montas was the losing pitcher. Bieber is 4-0 with a 2.97 ERA. This will be the first time the A’s will be facing Bieber.

The Indians have a good hitting team. They are in first place in the AL Central with a 48-37 record. The hitting and starting pitching has overcome the many injuries the team has suffered. Also, the bullpen is not at it’s best as Andrew Miller and Nick Goody are on the DL.

The A’s will see some familiar faces working in the Indians’ bullpen. Former A’s relievers Dan Otero and Marc Rzepczynski, as well as former SF Giant George Kontos, probably will see action against the A’s this weekend. Other relievers are Zach McAllister and veteran lefty hurler Oliver Perez. Righty Cody Allen is the closer.

The Indians have some outstanding players in their lineup. A’s pitchers will have to deal with shortstop Francisco Lindor, third baseman Jose Ramirez, second baseman Jason Kipnis, and first baseman Yonder Alonso. Kipnis is having a down year, but if he can regain his hitting stroke, he is capable of being able to cause a lot of damage. Lindor and Ramirez are probably heading to the All-Star game. Lindor is hitting .297 with 23 homers and 55 RBIs. He has a .948 OPS. Ramirez has 24 home runs, 55 RBIs, a .294 batting average and a .998 OPS.

Left fielder Michael Brantley is also playing well. Brantley’s average is .301, and he has 48 RBI’s. Lonnie Chisenhall and Rajai Davis will see action in right and center. Indians’ DH, Edwin Encarnacion is not hitting for average, but the 35-year-old has blasted 20 homers and has driven in 58.

There is no question that the Indians can rake. The big problem will be this: Will the A’s pitching be able to shut down the Cleveland offense? The Indians play better at home. They are 27-13 at Progressive Field. So A’s manager Bob Melvin will have to figure out a way to keep the Indians from putting runs on the board.

The A’s are also playing well. Melvin has done an amazing job as his starting rotation has been decimated by injuries. Trevor Cahill, Brett Anderson, Andrew Triggs, Daniel Mengden, Daniel Gossett all have started for the A’s, but are currently on the DL. Jharel Cotton and A.J. Puk were projected to be in this season’s starting rotation, but are gone for the year as they both underwent Tommy John surgery.

The Indian pitchers will also have to be able to handle the A’s hitters. Jed Lowrie leads the A’s in hitting and runs batted in. Lowrie is having a career year and hopefully will represent the A’s in the All-Star game. Matt Olson, Khris Davis, Matt Chapman, Chad Pinder, and Stephen Piscotty are all capable of sending baseballs out of the stadium. The A’s can hit. The A’s have a tough trip as they go to Houston for four and San Francisco for three. It will be a difficult trip. Let’s hope the A’s will do well.

San Jose Earthquakes podcast with Ana Kieu: Latest news on the Black and Blue

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On the SJ Earthquakes podcast with Ana:

1. Another Cali Clasico is in the books as the Quakes and L.A. Galaxy played to a 3-3 draw at Stanford Stadium last Saturday.

2. Add a Cali Clasico at Stanford Stadium to Nick Lima’s resume.

3. Former Reno 1868 midfielder, Kevin Partida, also played in his first Cali Clasico at Stanford Stadium.

4. How are the FIFA World Cup viewing parties going at Avaya Stadium?

5. The Quakes’ Foundation’s inaugural poker tournament is on July 20th.

6. The Quakes congratulated San Jose native and San Jose State alum Joey Chestnut on his new record of 74 hot dogs for his 11th title at the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, New York, on the Fourth of July.

Catch Ana for the weekly SJ Earthquakes podcast at SportsRadioService.com

Oakland Raiders podcast with Tony Renteria: Key players who Raiders will heavily depend for 2018

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On the Oakland Raiders podcast with Tony:

Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr in 2016 was 12-3, but broke his leg due to a sack, and in 2017, Carr suffered three broken bones in an injury. Can Carr avoid any set backs and stay healthy and how crucial will it be for the Raiders to have Carr healthy all season?

Marshawn Lynch running back was the best offensive running back in the second half of 2018. Lynch didn’t play in 2016, but came to the Raiders in 2017 and got his old self going and could be a great threat for the Raiders this season.

Amari Cooper receiver will try for better consistency this season after having troubles on the field and with injuries. Cooper had 470 yards, 37 catches, and five touchdowns.

Khalil Mack, an edge rusher, was the NFL’s defensive player of the year in 2015. Since he stayed away from mini camp 2018, will he have the impact that’s expected of him for this season?

Tony Renteria podcasts Raiders football at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s Manaea with another strong outing–no decision, but A’s win

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On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry:

A’s pitcher Sean Manaea had a strong performance against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday at the Oakland Coliseum. The A’s got the 4-2 win. Manaea went seven innings, two runs, and four hits. A’s manager Bob Melvin likes what Manaea has done in the number one starting role in the rotation.

The A’s continue to roll with their eighth win out of their last nine games. The A’s have won 14 of their last 17 games. The A’s are winning games when they’re behind and A’s hitter Stephen Piscotty was clutch, hitting a two-run double to put the A’s ahead of the Padres in the eighth inning.

The A’s have the day off Thursday and head onto Progressive Field for the start of a three-game series in Cleveland. The A’s will start Paul Blackburn (2-2 ERA 6.46) against Carlos Carrasco (8-5 ERA 4.24) for Cleveland.

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

 

 

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca and Morris Phillips: After sweeping Arizona, Giants get swept by Colorado

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On the SF Giants podcast with Michael and Morris:

The Giants, who swept the Arizona Diamondbacks on this road trip, and who would have thought that would happen? In the month of June, the Giants were on the biggest rollercoaster there is and they swept the D-Backs and Giants’ pitcher Dereck Rodriguez has pitched great 3-1 with a 3.16 ERA and it’s not a place a Giants baseball team go to win a series, let alone swept a series.

Then, the Giants went to Denver and dropped the first two games to the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field and it was kind of surprising fashion that they got five hits each night. That’s not going to be enough hits. The Giants get a home run and then it’s just four hits for the rest of the ballgame.

You saw those gaps in the lineups–guys were going O-fors. It’s the biggest mystery going why a veteran baseball team can’t win road games to be this poor on the road and lose 8-1 on Tuesday night. It’s a head scratcher.

There’s much more Michael and Morris podcast on the Giants each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

San Francisco Giants’ Wednesday game wrap: Iannetta’s HR sinks Giants 1-0

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By Jeremy Harness

There were fireworks going off all around the country on the 4th of July, to celebrate this nation’s independence.

However, none of the fireworks came from the Giants’ bats, and they sure weren’t free Wednesday night, as Tyler Anderson stifled the Giants in a 1-0 loss to the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, completing a three-game sweep at the hands of their National League West rivals.

Anderson (6-3) went eight innings and surrendered only two hits while allowing only two walks against nine strikeouts.

Andrew Suarez (3-5) was not that bad, either. In fact, he surrendered five hits and struck out six batters while not walking anyone while going seven strong innings. It was his best outing of the season.

However, one mistake in the seventh inning proved to be his undoing. Chris Iannetta laid into a wayward pitch from Suarez and sent it over the left-field wall, hugging the foul pole in the process.

The umpiring crew reviewed the home run, but the visual evidence was too great, and the home run was upheld. The Giants could not recover from the blow and could not solve Anderson, and although they got a hot off him, could not break through against closer Wade Davis, who collected his 25th save of the year.

The Giants will not lick their wounds and come home to face the St. Louis Cardinals for a four-game series at AT&T Park.

A’s continue to roll as they down Padres 4-2 for 2-game sweep

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By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND, Calif. — The A’s continue to play great baseball as they prevailed over the San Diego Padres 4-2 on the Fourth of July, Both teams played well, but in the end, the A’s were just a wee bit better.

A’s starter Sean Manaea did not figure in the decision, but had another strong pitching performance. Manaea went seven innings and allowed two runs and four hits. The Padres’ starter Luis Perdomo also pitched well. His line was 5 2/3 innings of work and he, too, allowed two runs and four hits.

The A’s won the game in the bottom of the eighth when they, as they have done so many times this season, were able to score late in the game. The A’s won for the eighth time in the last nine game and have won 14 of the last 17 as they move to a season-high nine games above the .500 mark with a record of 48-39.

The Padres scored two in the top of the second inning. Manaea issued a free pass to Hunter Renfroe. Padres’ rookie third baseman Christian Villaneuva homered to left field to give the Padres an early 2-0 lead. The A’s plated one in their half of the inning. With one out, Luis Perdomo walked Matt Olson. Right fielder Stephen Piscotty lined a ball into the gap in left-center-field to drive in Olson.

The A’s tied the game in the third. Josh Phegley walked to get things going. Dustin Fowler singled to put men on at first and second with no out. Perdomo struck out Matt Joyce for the first out. Jed Lowrie walked to load the bases. A’s DH Khris Davis followed with a solid single to left field to drive in Phegley. Matt Olson hit into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.

The A’s scored twice in the bottom of the eighth. Jed Lowrie received a walk that started the rally. Khris Davis doubled to left. Lowrie stopped at third. The Padres issued an intentional walk to Matt Olson to load the bases. Piscotty made the Padres pay as he hit his third double of the game to drive in Lowrie and Davis.

The Padres escaped further damage when they retired Olson at home on a force out, and Villaneuva turned a line shot off Marcus Semien’s bat into a 5-4 double play to end the inning. The A’s lead 4-2 heading into the top of the ninth. A’s closer Blake Treinen gave up a couple of hits but was able to escape without any damage and recorded his twenty-second save of the season.

Game Notes: Stephen Piscotty had three doubles in the game to tie and Oakland A’s single-game record. Treinen’s has converted each of his last 19 save opportunities dating back to May 4th. Lou Trivino was the winning pitcher, and his record is now 7-1. Jose Castillo absorbed the loss. The line score for the A’s was four runs, six hits, and no errors. The Padres’ line was two runs, seven hits, and no errors.

Khris Davis extended his hit streak to seven games, the second highest such streak of the season…is 10-for-27 (.370) during this span. • Matt Joyce snapped a five-game hitting streak. Mark Canha went hitless to end his career high 11 game hitting streak.

A’s third baseman Matt Chapman made the defensive play of the day in the sixth inning. He stabbed a Hunter Renfroe smash that looked like it was heading into the left-field corner. He dived for the ball and snared and in one motion righted himself to start a 5-4-3 double play.

Time of game was a crisp two hours and 33 minutes and 14,408 people watched as the A’s won again.

Up Next: The A’s are off on Thursday as they travel to Cleveland to face the Indians at Progressive Field starting Friday night. Paul Blackburn (2-2, ERA 6.46) will pitch for Oakland, and Cleveland will counter with righty Carlos Carrasco (8-5, ERA 4.24). The game will start at 4:10 pm PDT.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Giants face tough pitching; Rockies could put it to bed for a sweep

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On the SF Giants podcast with Marko:

The Giants dropped their second game to the Colorado Rockies in the series 8-1 on Tuesday night. The Giants were dominated by Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela, who went seven innings, no runs, three hits, no walks and four strikeouts. The Rockies’ Charles Blackmon had three hits and a triple, Trevor Story hit a triple, Nolan Arenado hit his 22nd home run and the Rockies have won five of their last six games.

Giants pitcher Chris Stratton was rocked for eight runs, 11 hits, in 5.2 innings of work. Game three is tonight at Coors Field as the Giants try to avoid the sweep in Colorado.

Marko Ukalovic does the Giants podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O: A’s lineup delivers punch to help them get wins in crucial times

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On the Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O:

Rally caps paid off at the Oakland Coliseum on Tuesday night as the Oakland A’s got five runs in the sixth inning to beat the San Diego Padres 6-2 to start this brief two-game series. A’s pitcher Chris Bassitt didn’t pitch quite as well as he did on the last road trip (he threw a shutout), but two runs, seven hits, two runs, six hits in 4.2 innings was not a bad outing.

Jed Lowrie hit a bases loaded three-run double and picked up his 25th double of the season with 59 RBIs. Mark Canha has proven to be a tough out he’s on an 11-game hit streak and has reached base in 12 straight games.

The A’s will start pitcher Sean Manaea (8-6). The Padres have announced they’ll start Luis Perdomo (1-2).

Charlie O podcasts A’s baseball each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com