Sports Radio Service

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: When Hollywood Comes to Oakland

Published on May 31, 2018May 31, 2018 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: nba.com/warriors

By: Amaury Pi Gonzalez

OAKLAND, Calif. — For the first time ever in the history of the United States, the same two teams are meeting for the fourth consecutive time in a series that will decide the champion. The Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers open the NBA Finals at the Oracle Arena Thursday night. The rivalry began in 2015 when the Warriors wiped out the Cavaliers in five games. In 2016, the Cavaliers rebounded as Lebron James, arguably the greatest player in the planet, defeated the Warriors in a grueling seven-game series. In 2017, the Warriors eliminated LeBron and company in six games.

Soon touching down at the Oakland International Airport, there will be many Lear jets bringing Hollywood celebrities to “the place to be.” Kim Kardashian, who just met with President Donald Trump in the White House to discuss prison reform, will likely be seen at Oracle Arena.

Like the previous three finals, we’ll probably see rapper Jay-Z, singer Rihanna, actor Kevin Hart, comedian Dave Chappelle, Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton, Brazilian soccer superstar Neymar and NFL players Marshawn Lynch, Solomon Thomas and Odell Beckham Jr. We could also could see rapper Drake, actor Matt Damon and many more.

Oakland is closer to the “jet set” from Hollywood, so I am pretty sure we will see more stars in Oakland than Cleveland. It is only a one and a half hour flight. That’s good enough for these celebs to have breakfast in LA and dinner in the Bay with the game in between.

I remember in the 90’s, I traveled with the Warriors as their Spanish play-by-play announcer and saw guys at mid-court like Jack Nicholson in LA and Billy Crystal in New York. Nicholson was a fixture at the old Forum in LA at every Lakers game.

The Warriors were a popular team who always sold out at home, but never won a title. The last one was under Al Attles’ 1975-76 team, who swept the Washington Bullets.

The last four years the Oracle Arena has become a “Fantasy Island” for Warriors fans in the Bay Area. They’re now are the undisputed leaders in flag displays on thousands of cars, no matter where you drive in San Francisco, Oakland or San Jose, there’s a car with one or more Warriors flags. The Warriors have become larger than life in the greater Bay Area. There will be watch parties in bars, restaurants and private homes all over the Bay Area. It is like a second Super Bowl every year. Nobody expects the Warriors to lose.

It was a long season for both of these teams. Both were taken to seven games in their respective Conference finals: Warriors by the Rockets, who really did as good as they could against a superior team, and the Cavaliers in seven games against a young and promising Boston Celtics team.

Lebron James will really have to be Superman and have all of the Marvel Heroes support him again this time if he wants to take the Cavaliers to the promised land again like in 2016.

ABC producers are busy, as they are getting the camera locations and angels during rehearsals. They will also give you a couple shots of the celebrities. They will carry the series and I will be surprised if the Cavaliers can stay with the Warriors for five games.

All games on ABC, Channel 7 for the Bay Area, in PST.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca and Morris Phillips: Panik’s return is near; Cueto to throw on flat ground; plus more

Published on May 31, 2018May 31, 2018 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @zesty_mlb

On the SF Giants podcast with Michael and Morris:

Just mentioning that Giants second baseman Joe Panik is super itchy to get back. Panik expects to play and have a seamless transition in case anyone is trying to throw him in the minor leagues for any amount of time.

Also, Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto is going to start throwing on flat ground sometime this week. The Giants need him, it’s just not Cueto; it’s Bumgarner the Giants are seeing that breaking point in terms of the rotation. With the Giants having to fill all these holes, Suarez pitched great, but now starter Jeff Samardzija has an issue, but not with the shoulder.

Join Michael and Morris for the SF Giants podcast each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Oakland 3-5 on current homestand so far; looking to have breakout offense against Rays

Published on May 31, 2018May 31, 2018 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @RaysBaseball

On the A’s podcast with Jerry:

First of all let’s talk about Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Nathan Eovaldi who was coming off his second Tommy John surgery and hadn’t pitched since August 10, 2016. Eovaldi pitched six innings reached his 70 pitch count and was throwing a no hitter and left the game for reliever Wilmer Font who was an A’s pitcher once upon a time until the A’s designated him for assignment and the Rays picked him up.

Font gave up the only hit in the ball game for the A’s when the A’s Jed Lowrie got a single that broke it up. If the Rays succeeded with the no hitter it would be the first time since 1991 that the A’s would have been no hit.

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

Beyond Quiet: A’s limited to one hit, commit four errors in 6-0 loss to Tampa Bay

Published on May 31, 2018May 31, 2018 by moepeaLeave a comment

By Morris Phillips

OAKLAND–The A’s avoided the no-no. They did not avoid the oh-no.

On a quiet night–emphasis on quiet–at the Coliseum, the A’s were shutout 6-0 (the third time the A’s have been shut out in their last eight games), limited to one hit, committed four errors, and did so in front of the smallest crowd of the season to date.

That’s the oh-no.

The momentum from sweeping the Blue Jays four straight in Toronto? Completely disappeared. The A’s have opened their home stand following the once in a decade achievement in Canada by losing four of six. And apparently, losing their offense in the process as well. The A’s have scored four runs or fewer in each of their last 14 home games, tying an Oakland A’s record for such unwatchable things.

Unwatchable? The announced crowd of 6,705 was the smallest in Oakland since 2003.

“We’re struggling,” manager Bob Melvin said. “You’re never as bad as it seems when it’s your worst, and you’re never at your best when things are going great. We’ve got to find a middle ground somewhere.”

Occupying the middle ground on Wednesday–and making sure the A’s weren’t welcome there–was Nathan Eovaldi, the oft-injured, flamethrower who started for the Rays in his first start in nearly two years after a second, Tommy John procedure, and a follow-up procedure on his elbow.

Simply, Eovaldi was so good it’s like where do we start. Well, with his first pitch, clocked at 98 mph. From there, Eovaldi dealt, retiring 18 batters and walking Matt Chapman on four pitches. He started 13 of the 19 batters he faced with a strike, but only struck out four. Quick outs, unhittable pitches, and then Eovaldi was gone after six. What other decision could Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash make?

“Every time he gets on the mound the velocity is there,” Cash said. “It’s kind of “wow factor” velocity, but you learn that’s him.”

“He did not look really crisp with the pitches (thrown in the first inning) and the command, and he did a nice job of taking a deep breath and getting back in the zone. And then he just went on cruise control after that.”

“I would have liked to stay out there until I gave up a hit, but I understand the situation as well,” Eovaldi said of his inevitable, early departure.

Reliever Wilmer Font, the former Athletic making his Tampa Bay debut, would allow a hit to Jed Lowrie in the seventh, breaking up the potential no-hitter. But Font rolled through the seventh and eighth, then Vidal Nuno pitched a flawless ninth in a non-save situation.

Instead of hits, the smattering of A’s fans were treated to errors, two from Chad Pinder, playing shortstop while Marcus Semien was off at the hospital awaiting the birth of his child.

While the errors elicited groans from the crowd, they did not contribute to the Rays’ four runs off Sean Manaea, who again was off his game. Manaea’s biggest mistake was a 3-1, fastball that Rob Refsnyder transformed into a three-run homer in the third.

Manaea’s win-loss record fell to 5-6, after he started the season 4-1 in April.

“I’m trying to figure out some things,” Manaea said. “It’s just not working right now.”

Khris Davis, the A’s leading home run hitter with 13, is expected to return to the lineup Thursday afternoon for the series finale with Ray’s. Davis missed nine games with a groin strain.

Giants survive Coors Field with late 7-4 win over Rockies

Published on May 30, 2018May 30, 2018 by jeremy2878Leave a comment

Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Harness

It did not look good early for the Giants at all, and it looked like so many other horror shows that have been disguised as road games that the Giants play at Coors Field over the years.

However, the Giants survived the rough start and rallied for a comeback win, a much-needed 7-4 victory over the Colorado Rockies that sent them to the airport in a delightful mood as they prepare to head back home.

Nolan Arenado, who has had his share of big games against the Giants, started things off with a three-run homer off starter Derek Holland in the very first inning.

The Giants, however, didn’t take much time to respond at all, as they got two runs in their half of the second inning off Colorado Jon Gray, with Pablo Sandoval singling in a run to narrow the Rockies’ lead to one.

They eventually tied the game at 4-4 in the fourth and chased Gray from the game, when Gorkys Hernandez and Buster Posey each drew bases-loaded walks. The Giants took the lead for good in the fifth, when Evan Longoria’s triple brought in a run, and Brandon Crawford singled in a run.

Nursing a three-run lead in the ninth, Hunter Strickland had to survive a bit of a scare from the Rox, and it started after he struck out Gerardo Parra. The strikeout pitch, however, got away from catcher Buster Posey, and Parra was able to reach base, thus nullifying the out.

Two batters later, Ryan McMahon lined a two-out double, and Strickland had to deal with Arenado, who represented the tying run. However, Strickland was able to get Arenado to pop out harmlessly to second, as his team escaped with the win.

The Giants will now head home to face the Phillies for a three-game series that starts Friday night at AT&T Park. The series opener is set for 7:15 pm PST.

NHL Stanley Cup Finals Vegas Golden Knights podcast with Mary Lisa Walsh

Published on May 30, 2018 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @GoldenKnights

On the Vegas Golden Knights podcast with Mary Lisa:

#1 How much of a threat is the Washington Caps Alex Ovechkin? Vegas Golden Knights goalie Marc Andre-Fleury allowed more than his average amount of goals in the first game.

#2 The Caps opened these finals on the road. Is this a disadvantage or it doesn’t matter that they face the Knights on their home ice?

#3 The Caps are deep in players, a roster with a team that has players that have been together for awhile.

#4 The Knights have been getting goaltending during this postseason from Fleury and he’s been the crux of the playoffs for them.

#5 The Knights-Caps go at it for Game 1 tonight. Mary Lisa tells us how she sees game two going into tonight.

Mary Lisa does the NHL Stanley Cup Finals podcast each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Stanley Cup Finals Washington Capitals podcast with Marko Ukalovic

Published on May 30, 2018 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: nhl.com/capitals

On the Washington Capitals podcast with Marko:

#1 Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson’s blindside hit on the Vegas Jonathan Marchessault that Wilson didn’t get suspended for. Wilson said he watched Marchessault finish his pass and Wilson said he went to finish his check.

#2 The hit laid him out in Game 1. He went to the locker room for concussion protocol tests at 14:15 in the third period.

#3 Wlson saying that after Marchessault when Marchessault was finished admiring his pass Wilson went to finish his check. Does that sound like there was some premeditated intent there?

#4 Marchessault said that he was confident that the league would take care of Wilson for the late hit, but Marchessault was not suspended.

#5 So with all that under consideration, what happens tonight? Will there be a rumble? Will the Caps create a physical environment and try to take Vegas out of their speed skating?

Marko Ukalovic does the NHL Stanley Cup Finals podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

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

Published on May 29, 2018 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @SJEarthquakes

On the SJ Earthquakes podcast with Ana:

1. It just wasn’t the Quakes’ night in Carson against the Galaxy in the 1-0 shutout in the California Clasico last Saturday.

2. Quakes fans, don’t forget to vote your favorite team into the MLS All-Star Game using the MLS app.

3. The Quakes’ family four-pack is back.

4. The Quakes congratulated the Warriors on their fourth straight NBA Finals appearance.

5. The Quakes head to Chicago this weekend to take on the Fire.

Ana does the SJ Earthquakes podcasts each week for sportsradioservice.com.

A’s come up short in 4-3 loss to Rays

Published on May 29, 2018May 29, 2018 by rxsluggerLeave a comment

Photo credit: @RaysBaseball

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — The Tampa Bay Rays edged the A’s 4-3 in the second game of the four-game series at Oakland Coliseum Tuesday night.

Rays’ starter, Blake Snell, improved his record to 7-3 as he baffled the A’s, allowing just one run, which was unearned, and two hits. He struck out seven.

A’s starter Daniel Gossett allowed three runs and eight hits. He was tagged with the loss. He gave up three consecutive home runs in the third inning.

The Rays scored three times in the third inning. Gossett struck out the first two hitters that he faced. The next three hitters, C.J. Cron (former A’s second baseman), Joey Wendle, and Rays’ catcher Wilson Ramos, all hit solo home runs.

It was the first time since August 1st, 2017 that the Rays hit back-to-back homers against the Houston Astros, and it was the first time since they hit three consecutive dingers in a game since September 21st, 2016 when they did it against the New York Yankees.

The A’s put one on the board in their half of the third. Catcher Bruce Maxwell reached on an error. Snell retired the next two hitters. Jed Lowrie, the designated hitter, doubled to left field to drive in Maxwell. The run was unearned. Rays lead 3-1 after three complete.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Rays’ pitcher Jamie Schultz made his Major League debut and had quite a debut as he struck out all the hitters he faced. Welcome to the Bigs, Rook!

The A’s had a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth inning. Rays’ reliever, righty Chaz Roe, walked Marcus Semien to start the inning. The next batter, Matt Chapman, had a broken bat blooper that fell in safely in right field. Semien made it third, and Chapman reached second on Carlos Gomez’ throwing error. Roe struck out Lowrie and Mark Canha and retired Chad Pinder on a routine ground ball out. The Rays still lead 3-1 as the teams head into the ninth inning.

In the ninth, Rays’ shortstop, former A’s farmhand, Daniel Robertson clobbered his sixth dinger of the year to give Tampa Bay a 4-1 lead. The A’s rallied to score twice. Sergio Romo, who was a closer for the San Francisco Giants, was Ray.s manager Kevin Cash’s choice to finish the game. Matt Olson singled off Romo to start the rally. Stephen Piscotty doubled down the left field line to drive in Olson. Piscotty went to third on a ground ball out and scored on Bruce Maxwell’s ground ball to first base. Romo dodged a bullet when Marcus Semien hit a long fly ball that had the distance for a home run, but the ball went foul. Romo then retired Semien for the final out of the game.

Game Notes: With the loss, the A’s drop to 28-27 and the Rays improve to 27-26.

The Rays’ line was four runs, 10 hits, and two errors. All four of the Rays’ runs were the result of solo homers.

The A’s line was three runs, five hits, and one error.

Time of game was two hours and 55 minutes.

A very sparse crowd of 7,521 fans were on hand to see the A’s lose.

Up Next: Wednesday night’s game will feature the A’s big lefty Sean Manaea (5-5, 3.34 ERA) pitching for Oakland and righty Nathan Eovaldi going for the Rays. Manaea has been scuffling lately, and he will be hoping to return to the form that he showed earlier in the season. Game time is set for 7:05 pm PST.

Two more pitchers injured in Giants’ 11-4 loss to Rockies; Samardzija and Rodriguez leave game due to injuries

Published on May 29, 2018May 29, 2018 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

skgoabc7.com photo: San Francisco Giants pitcher Jeff Samardzija last just an inning before leaving due to tightness in his throwing shoulder while pitching against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Tuesday night

By Jeremy Kahn

There is one or two things that the San Francisco Giants did not need with just two games remaining on their three-city, eight-game road trip.

Jeff Samardzija lasted just one inning, where he gave up two runs on three hits and the Colorado Rockies defeated the Giants 11-4 at Coors Field.

Samardzija was forced to leave the game with his tightness in his right shoulder, the same right shoulder that saw the right-hander begin the 2018 season on the disabled list for the first time in his major-league career.

With the loss of Samardzija after just one inning, the Giants turned to Dereck Rodriguez, who made his major-league debut.

Rodriguez, who is the son of hall of fame catcher Ivan Rodriguez, went 3.1 innings, allowing four runs, with just one of them earned. He also drove in the Giants first run of the game, as he doubled over the head of Rockies right fielder Carlos Gonzalez in the top of the fifth inning that cut the Rockies lead down to 5-1.

Unfortunately, Rodriguez’s debut ended on a sour note, as he took a line drive off the right calf in the bottom of the fifth inning, when Ian Desmond hit a ball up the middle.

Once again, the Giants defense was subpar, as they committed four errors on the evening, including two in the bottom of the fourth inning that saw the Rockies break the game wide open, as they scored three runs.

After Rodriguez was able to get the first outs of the inning via the strikeout, the floodgates of shoddy defense began. Kyle Freeland doubled, then Charlie Blackmon hit a ground ball to Kelby Tomlinson that he was unable to handle for his second error of the evening that allowed Freeland to scored. Blackmon went to third base on a throwing error by Brandon Belt and then both Gerardo Parra and Nolan Arenado each hit run-scoring doubles.

Tomlinson committed a third error in the bottom of the eighth inning, as his throw to Brandon Crawford on a Trevor Story groundball that pulled Crawford off of second base.

It was a good night on the mound for Freeland, as he went 5.1 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits, he also did not walk a batter and struck out three. Freeland evened up his record on the season at 5-5.

Evan Longoria hit two home runs in the same game for the first time since July 17, 2016, when he was with the Tampa Bay Rays. Longoria reaches 10 home runs on the season, just two months into the season, during the 2017 season, the Giants third basemen combined for eight home runs.

Buster Posey hit his third home run of the season.

NOTES: Derek Holland looks for his third win of the season, as the Giants look to end the road trip on a high note. Through the first seven games on the road trip, the Giants are 1-6. Rockies will send Jon Gray to the mound, as he looks for his first career win against the Giants. In his career, Gray is 0-2 with a 4.26 earned run average in four starts.

Madison Bumgarner will make his second rehab start on Thursday night, as he will throw between 70 and 75 pitches for class A San Jose.

Bumgarner is slated to make his season debut on June 5th at AT&T Park against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

UP NEXT: The Giants and Rockies continue their series Wednesday at 5:40 pm PST.