San Francisco Giants feature with Tony the Tiger Hayes: He was a Giant? Cesar Gutierrez, former infielder for SF in the 60s

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Topps 1970 baseball card of former San Francisco Giant and Detroit Tiger infielder Cesar Gutierrez

CESAR’S SALAD DAY

By Tony “Le Tigre” Hayes

Cesar Gutierrez – IF – 1967, 1969 – # 17

SAN FRANCISCO–He Was a Giant?

This slight 5’9″, 150 pound infielder – who spent parts of two seasons swinging and missing as a Giant – was alternately nicknamed, “Bandito” (he was a nifty base stealer) and “Cocoa” (for an undying love of Hershey bars).

But “The Enigma” would have equally worked for Gutierrez — especially in reference to the right-handed hitter’s perplexing batting results in the Majors.

Though he was a minor league career .299 hitter and even won a Triple-A batting title as a Giants farmhand, the Venezuelan was an underachieving big league batsman, hitting a moribund .235 in 223 MLB contests.

Gutierrez was practically an automatic out.

That is… with the exception of one stunning performance by Gutierrez as a Detroit Tiger in 1970, when the normally feeble swinger set a modern day big league record for most hits in a game without recording an out.

He batted 7-for-7, in a 9-8, 12-inning Tigers win at Cleveland in the night-cap of a double header (6/21/70).

Cesar batted safely off all six Cleveland pitchers that day.

He collected two singles off the Tribe’s Rick Austin (in his MLB debut), mashed a double and single off Dennis Higgins, laced another single off Fred Lasher, stroked another single against Dick Ellsworth and capped his day with yet another single off the losing pitcher Phil Hennigan.

Astonishing Gutierrez’s six singles and one double that day, fell just one short of the grand total of hits Gutierrez amassed as a Giant when he batted .182 in 33 contests.

Why Was He a Giant?
With the sure-handed Hal Lanier holding down shortstop in SF, Gutierrez was the back up to begin the 1967 campaign. but didn’t hang around long – spending most of the season at Triple-A Phoenix.

Coincidently he thrived in the desert, winning the Pacific Coast League batting crown with a .322 average.

Before & After
After spending all of 1968 back in the minors, Gutierrez made the Giants big club on Opening Day in 1969, but failed to get his bat in gear once again.

The Giants cut ties with Gutierrez later that season, trading the then 26 -year -old to the Tigers to complete an earlier deal for rubber-armed reliever Don McMahon.

Gutierrez finally got his shot to play in the bigs in 1970 and was Detroit’s starting shortstop for most of the season. But save his one heavy volume hit day – Gutierrez did not impress at the plate (.243).

He failed to hit a home run and to make matters worse, Gutierrez had more errors (23) than he did RBI (22). After the Tigers’ disappointing fourth place finish, the Bengals closed the curtains on the Gutierrez experiment.

He Wasn’t Omar Vizquel… But
After starting his Giants career 0-for-10, Gutierrez delivered his first two big league hits off of former 20-game winner Chris Short of Philadelphia in a 9-1 loss at Candlestick Park (9/29/67).

Giants Footprint
Since Gutierrez’s magical day at the plate in 1970, only two players have stroked seven hits in a game. They each have ties to the Orange & Black.

In 1975, as a member of the Pirates, future Giant Rennie Stennett batted 7-for-7 in a regulation 9-inning game.

Then in 2017, current SF player Brandon Crawford batted 7-for-8 in a 12-inning game.

Tony the Tiger Hayes does the Giants features. Catch him at http://www.sportsradioservice.com.

NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcast with Len Shapiro: Caps off to a Lightning start, up 2-0; Tampa Bay struggling on defense

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Photo credit: nhl.com/capitals

On the NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcast with Len Shapiro:

The Washington Capitals are off to a fast start with a series 2-0 lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Capitals dominated in Game 2 on the Tampa Bay ice on Sunday with a four-goal 6-2 win. Alex Ovechkin says the team doesn’t panic under pressure and say the Caps are playing the system and doing it the right way.

The Lightning down 1-0 saw the Capitals turn on the red lamp with three goals in the second period and two more goals in the third period. The Lightning just couldn’t get any kind of defense going nor could they get back into the game to answer the Capitals on their goal scoring.

The two clubs match up again on Tuesday night this time for Game 3 in Washington, which is a tall task to ask of the Lightning to try and come back down two. The Lightning more than likely will attack like a cornered animal and will need Game 3 to feel some semblance of this third round of the playoffs.

Len Shapiro does the NHL Stanley Cup playoff podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Whoa, Nellie! There’s a new cash cow in town and it’s not marijuana

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@XTRA1360
Photo: @XTRA1360

by Charlie O. Mallonee

The Supreme Court of the United States just blew the lid off the sports world on Monday when it ruled that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) is unconstitutional. The PASPA law was passed in 1992 and limited sporting betting to Nevada and on a limited basis to Montana, Deleware, and Oregon who already had some sports gambling set up through their lotteries.

“The Supremes” ruled 6-3 saying it is up to the states to decide if they want to allow their residents to be able to wager on sporting events. What they really said, is it is up to the states to decide if they want to put an end to the flood of cash that goes to Nevada and get a piece of the action back in the form of taxes. Legalized sports gambling at the state level could also “take a bite out of crime” hurting the illegal underground gambling operations.

The potential influx of tax income from sports betting could eclipse the present revenue received from the lottery, marijuana, Indian casinos, and horse racing combined. It really could be the tax windfall many states have trying to create for many years.

Could there be abuses?

@NewYork_HR
Photo: NewYork_HR

Of course, there will be abuses. There will be people who gamble wager too much. There will be people who will go bankrupt and lose their homes. Families will fall apart. But, this is happening now except the money is flowing into the state of Nevada or into the hands of criminals.

The majority of people will participate with no problem and will enjoy the opportunity to test their skill. A few people will become “super rich”. Even if you do not like sports and will not bet on a game, you will benefit as newfound tax revenue that flows in the state.

Pro sports teams are not happy

@GJTIII
Photo: @GJTIII

The major professional sports organizations are not happy. Why? Because there is about to be a “boatload of cash” enter the sports market and at the moment, they are completely out of the loop when it comes to getting their hands on what could potentially be billions of dollars.

Major League Baseball and the National Basketball Association have proposed the concept of an integrity fee where one-percent of bets would go to the leagues to help combat point-shaving and other illegal gambling corruption. A little of that one-percent might also wind up in the team’s coffers.

According to an expert quoted in USA Today, that one-percent take would really represent a 20-percent income grab by the pro teams. The gaming expert stated most sports book operations keep only five-percent of the revenue they take in from gamblers.

The bottom line is that for now all of the teams – pro, college, and amateur – are going to find themselves out in the cold when it comes to sports gambling revenue. The only way they are going to be able to wedge their way in is to find a legal loophole or to get Congress to sponsor legislation mandating states to cut them in on the profits.

If you live in California, don’t get too excited

@TheGorny
Photo: @TheGorny

The current estimate is that it will take up to five years for the Golden State to put a sports betting plan into place. Why will it take so long? Politics – plain and simple is what will delay the start of wagering in California. How should the money be used? What should the age limits be? Where should betting be allowed to take place? Should state income tax be collected on the winnings?

As you can see, it will be a real political donnybrook.

We will be sharpening our skills

@IdahWiringa
Photo: @IdahWiringa

In the meantime, we at SportsRadioService.com will be sharpening our skills in preparation for giving you the best information available to assist you in making your wagering decisions when you can finally lay your money down on your favorite team.

Aces fall to Wings 68-55 in preseason finale

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20180506 - A'Ja Wilson 02

Photo credit: Shawn McCullough, Sports Radio Service

By Shawn McCullough

The Las Vegas Aces finished their preseason with a 68-55 loss to the Wings in Dallas.

A’ja Wilson struggled in her second professional game shooting just 4 for 17 from the field and scoring nine points.  Wilson dominated on the boards, pulling down a game-high 12 rebounds.

Tamera Young led the team in scoring with 11 points.

12 Aces players logged minutes in preparation for Las Vegas’ season opener on Sunday, May 20th against the Connecticut Sun in Uncasville, CT.

With the loss, the Aces finished the preseason 1-1, after a 98-63 win over the Chinese National Team in Las Vegas last weekend.

The Aces will play their home games this season at the Mandalay Bay Events Center and will play their first regular season home game on Sunday, May 27th against the Seattle Storm.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Starters:

C – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 19 JiSu Park
F – 1 Tamera Young
G – 12 Nia Coffey
G – 51 Sydney Colson

Yankees take series over A’s with 6-2 victory

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By: Jessica Kwong

NEW YORK – After a two-hour, 45-minute rain delay at Yankee Stadium, the Oakland Athletics on Sunday afternoon let the New York Yankees to take an early lead, rallied too late and lost the game 6-2, as well as the series.

A’s starting pitcher Brett Anderson, who allowed four runs in five innings, admitted that the rain delay threw him off.

“You come to the field knowing what time the game is supposed to start, then it’s a hurry-up-and-wait scenario,” Anderson said.

The Yankees got off to a good start. Brett Gardner and Aaron Judge scored when Giancarlo Stanton hit a ground ball to center fielder Dustin Fowler, and Didi Gregorius advanced to second base. Gregorius scored when Aaron Hicks singled on a ground ball to Fowler, putting the Yankees up 3-0 over the A’s.

In the fifth inning, Jed Lowrie singled on a sharp line drive to right fielder Judge and Jonathan Lucroy scored the first run for the A’s. But at the bottom of the fifth, Stanton hit a home run to put the Yankees up 4-1.

“Struggled some in the first, looked like he got it under control the next couple innings, but we needed five out of him today, we had bullpen issues,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said of Anderson. “I think sometimes it takes a starter time to settle in, and they had him on the run right away with guys on base.”

Anderson was relieved by veteran Santiago Casilla, who pitched two innings and allowed Judge to score in the seventh inning.

Melvin said Casilla’s contribution was “huge for us.”

“The guy’s out there throwing 40-some pitches, helped save the bullpen, wanted no part of coming out of that game, competing real hard. It’s good for our younger guys to see, too, in a game that you’re behind like that,” Melvin said. “There are small victories in certain games even when you lose and that was big for us.”

In the eighth inning, with Wilmer Font pitching, Judge singled on a sharp ground ball to right fielder Mark Canha and Miguel Andujar scored, bringing the Yankees up 6-1.

Canha in the ninth inning hit a homer on a fly ball to center field to cut the Yankees lead to 6-2, but the A’s did not manage to get more runs.

With Sunday’s loss, the A’s for the first time since April 20 fell two games under .500 (19-21). The A’s are 8-12 on the road this season.

The A’s continue their 10-game road trip in Boston to play a three-game series against the Red Sox. First pitch on Monday is at 4:10 p.m. PST.

Hernandez and Holland help end the Giants’ skid with 5-0 shutout

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

After seeing their opponents, the Pittsburgh Pirates, hit fly ball home runs for the first two games, the San Francisco Giants thought enough was enough and they needed to join in.

Well, Gorkys Hernandez did just that, as he hit a solo home run to lead off the top of the sixth inning, where the Giants scored all their runs on their way to stopping their six-game losing streak thru the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania after defeating the Pirates 5-0 at PNC Park.

Brandon Belt and Pablo Sandoval each singled, Brandon Crawford doubled and then Nick Hundley greeted reliever Richard Rodriguez by taking his first pitch out of the park for a 5-0 lead.

After the Sandoval single, Crawford hit a double that scored Belt to increase the Giants lead to 2-0, and ended Pirates starter Ivan Nova’s day

The single by Sandoval was one that haunted Nova in the end, as he knew he was able to field it for the possible third out; however, he was unable to handle and then Hundley launched his three-run home run.

Derek Holland pitched 6.1 innings, scattering four hits, walking five and striking out seven, as he won for the second time this season.

Holland was helped out by the fact that the Pirates went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position on the afternoon, including 0-for-8 against Holland.

The trio of Reyes Moronta, Will Smith and Hunter Strickland ended the seven-hit shutout, as the Giants picked up their fourth shutout of the season, while the Pirates were shutout for the third time this season.

Nova went 5.2 innings, allowing four runs and eight hits, and Is 0-2 in five starts since defeating the Miami Marlins on April 15.

Andrew McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a walk, and the weekend by going 4-for-14 with three doubles in his first weekend playing in the city where he played for the first 13 seasons of his career. McCutchen extended his hitting streak up to 12 games, and 16-for-43 during the streak.

NOTES: Chris Stratton opens up the seven-game home stand on Monday night, as he takes the mound against the Cincinnati Reds. Stratton, who is 3-3 on the season and in his three losses, the Giants have been outscored by their opponents, 35-9.

Madison Bumgarner will throw a bullpen session on Monday at AT&T Park, and could begin his rehab assignment within days. If the rehab goes well, Bumgarner could be activated from the 60-day disabled list on May 25, the day he is eligible to come off of it.

UP NEXT: The Giants will return home to host the Cincinnati Reds for a three-game series. Game 1 is scheduled for Monday night at 7:15 pm PT.

MLB The Show podcast with Daniel Dullum: Hit by sends Giants to six-game skid; Headley goes back to the minors; Zobrist’s black shoe banned from MLB

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@benzobrist18 photo: Ben Zobrist of the Chicago Cubs displays one of his banned black shoes from MLB on his hitting stick

On the MLB The Show podcast with Daniel Dullum:

1 Giants’ on six-game skid after losing to Pittsburgh on RBI HBP.

2 Padres designate Chase Headley for assignment.

3 Matt Harvey has a decent debut for Cincinnati.

4 Cubs’ Ben Zobrist busted by MLB for wearing traditional black cleats.

Daniel Dullum does the MLB The Show podcast each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Watson falters in Giants’ 6-5 loss to Pirates

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

Once again, it was a homecoming for a former Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star, but this is one game that Tony Watson will want to forget.

Watson, who played for the Pirates for six seasons got into a jam, as he loaded the bases and then the Pirates took the lead for good, when Watson hit former teammate Jordy Mercer to score Josh Bell from third base and the Pirates defeated the Giants 6-5 at PNC Park.

The win went to Pirates closer Felipe Vasquez, who picked up his second win of the season, as he got the final five outs of the game.

Bell picked up two hits on the night, and his base running helped the Pirates score the winning run. David Freese hit an infield single that Evan Longoria fielded, and Bell was able to elude Longoria’s tag to get back to third base.

Andrew McCutchen went 2-for-5, as he extended his hitting streak to 11 games and streak of getting on base up to 22 games.

Longoria and Alen Hanson hit home runs for the Giants, who have lost six games in a row thru the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Jeff Samardzija went 5.2 innings, allowing five runs and six hits, as he saw his earned run average increase to a whopping 6.94 on the season. Samardzija also gave up two home runs to Francisco Cervelli and Gregory Polanco.

After Cervelli gave the Pirates a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, as his laser shot landed in the front row of the right-center field seats.

Brandon Belt cut the Pirates lead in half, as he singled in McCutchen in the top of the seventh inning.

Austin Jackson tied up the game in the top of the eighth inning, as he doubled to left to score Hanson, who is day-to-day with a tight left hamstring.

Pirates starter Chad Kuhl pitched six innings, allowing three runs and six hits. Kuhl also struck out six and walked four.

Both Samardzija and Kuhl did not fare in the decision for either teams.

NOTES: Derek Holland looks to stop the teams’ losing streak, and a streak of his own, as Holland last won on the road on May 21, 2017, while with the Chicago White Sox. Ivan Nova looks to help the Pirates pick up the sweep.

Hunter Pence looks to be improving, and he could possibly be activated during the Giants’ seven-game home stand that begins on Monday night against the Cincinnati Reds.

UP NEXT: The Giants-Pirates series concludes with a series finale on Sunday at 10:35 am PT.

Yankees need 11 innings on Saturday in the Bronx to beat the A’s 7-6

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NYY Neil Walker
Neil Walker gets the treatment after hitting the game-winning hit Photo: @Yankees

by Charlie O. Mallonee

It took four hours and 15 minutes, 11-innings, 13 pitchers, 34 baserunners, 17 hits, four home runs and one controversial video replay to bring game two of the three-game series between the Athletics and Yankees to a conclusion on Saturday afternoon.

In the bottom of the 11th inning with two out and runners at first and second, the Yankees Neil Walker stepped into the batter’s box to face A’s relief pitcher Chris Hatcher who entered the game in the 10th inning. Walker hit the first pitch to him from Hatcher into center field. Gary Sanchez took off from second base at the crack of the bat and never had any goal in mind but to score the winning run. Mark Canha’s throw was off-line and Sanchez scored the run for a 7-6 New York walk-off win.

Walker is now 9-for-25 (.360) including nine walks in his last nine games after hitting just .163 in his first 21-games of the season.

Oakland thought the game might be over in nine innings

NYY TAG
Was he safe or was he out? Photo: Yankees Facebook

In the top of the ninth inning, the Yankees brought in the fire-balling Aroldis Chapman to shut down the A’s. It became apparent immediately that Chapman did not have his usual unhittable, strikeout “stuff” on Saturday. After loading the bases on three consecutive walks, Chapman was able to strikeout Mark Canha.

Jonathan Lucroy was inserted as a pinch-hitter for catcher Bruce Maxwell. Lucroy was 1-for-9 versus Chapman with the one hit being a home run. Lucroy hit the first pitch from Chapman into shallow left field. As Brett Gardner caught the ball, the Athletics Matt Olson tagged at third and headed for home. Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez moved about three-feet up the baseline, caught an on-target throw from Gardner and made a sweeping tag at Olson who was sliding toward home plate. Home plate umpire James Hoye called Olson safe without hesitation. The Yankees immediately challenged the call on the field.

The replays made available to television made it look like Sanchez did indeed make the tag except for one crucial angle where it looks like the catcher misses the tag. The replay center overturned the call on the field. It became an inning-ending double play.

Personal opinion inserted here: I hate replay in all sports. You have professional officials on the field to calls. Let them do their jobs. Yes, they will make some mistakes. over the course of a 162-game season, all of the mistakes will balance themselves out. Review your history if doubt my opinion.

Oakland Postgame Notes

NYY Khris HR
Khris Davis celebrates after hitting HR No. 11 Photo: @Athletics
  • This was the A’s first extra-inning loss of the season. They were 3-0 in extra-inning games until Saturday.
  • Starting pitcher Andrew Triggs did not record a decision. He worked 4.1-innings allowing six runs (all earned) on six hits. He struck out six Yanks and walked four. Triggs real undoing was allowing three home runs.
  • Reliever Chris Hatcher (3-1) took the loss on Saturday. He pitched 1.2-innings giving up one run off two hits.
  • The A’s other five relievers – Coulombe, Dull, Casilla, Petit and Treinen pitched 4.2-innings of shutout baseball.
  • Khris Davis hit another home run on Saturday – number 11 of the season. This one came in the fourth inning with two runners on base and gave the A’s a 3-2 lead.
  • Mark Canha went 2-for-5 with two RBI in the game. He is batting .400 (6-for-15) with nine RBI and three walks with runners in scoring position.
  • The A’s are now 19-20 for the year.

Yankees Postgame Notes

  • This was the Yankees fourth “walk-off” win of the season and ended a two-game losing streak.
  • The win ended a five-game losing streak to the Athletics.
  • New York starter RHP Domingo Germain took a no-decision whiled working 5.0-innings and allowing six runs (all earned) on six hits (one HR). He walked three and struck out one.
  • Yankees reliever A.J. Cole (3-1) picked up the victory. Cole struggled with the first two hitters he faced but then settled down to keep his team in the game.
  • Three big home runs helped the Bombers on Saturday: Aaron Judge hit a two-run shot, his 11th of the year. Gary Sanchez (10) and Aaron Hicks (3) went long back-to-back in the second inning.
  • Didi Gregorius ended a 30 at-bat hitless streak when he hit a single off Triggs in the fifth inning.

Up next

The Athletics and Yankees will wrap up this three-game series on Sunday in the Bronx with a 10:05 AM PDT first-pitch. Oakland will send LHP Brett Anderson (0-1,8.68) to the mound to face the Yankees RHP Luis Severino (5-1,2.21).

 

Wondolowski achieves MLS record in Earthquakes’ 3-1 win over Minnesota United FC

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Photo credit: @SJEarthquakes Twitter

By Pearl Allison Lo

San Jose Earthquakes captain Chris Wondolowski achieved a MLS record with the most goals for a single club, facing Minnesota United FC in a 3-1 win Saturday.

The Earthquakes ended a seven game, 70 day drought without a win including seven minutes of stoppage time. San Jose continued their dominance versus the Loons (4-0-0). The Quakes have scored three goals apiece in the last three, Danny Hoesen has scored at least one in each of those games and Wondolowski has put up an assist in all four games.

Both teams were able to put numbers on the board after being shut out in their previous games.

Wondolowski was not in the opening lineup for a second game, but entered in the 55th minute.  He made an indirect and direct impact in the 69th and 76th minutes.

The indirect play was when Wondolowski made a scoop pass from the endline to Hoesen. It was Hoesen’s second straight goal in two games versus Minnesota and third overall in that same span. He had the game-winner this time and the last.

For the 76th minute, Wodolowski’s attempt was set up when Francisco Calvo was called for a handball when he blocked Hoesen’s shot.

Wondolowski made a bit of a straightaway shot for the 3-1 cushion. It was San Jose’s first decision of the season that went beyond a goal.

The Quakes were not without their share of luck however.

San Jose was fortunate when Christian Ramirez hit the crossbar 41st minute. Calvo also came close when he hit the near post in the 90th minute. Minnesota was a victim of the post in their last MLS game as well.

The Quakes got the lead goal for the first time since April 14. In just the second minute, Magnus Eriksson converted on an early penalty kick to the bottom left corner as goalie Bobby Shuttleworth went to his left. Robert Jonas notably mentioned that “it was the first time since May 2014 that someone other than Wondolowski attempted a penalty kick” for San Jose. Anibal Godoy got the “assist.”

In the 24th minute, Quakes’ goalie Andrew Tarbell was able to parry away the ball first, with a defender behind him in the box hoping to connect with the ball.

However, in the 26th minute, Shea Salinas gave the ball away to Ramirez, who one-timed a long arc into the bottom left corner of the net from the right corner of the box to even the score.

At the end of the first half, Eriksson, Hoesen and Vako each had two shots with one on target apiece for San Jose. Both teams received yellow cards for unsporting behavior.

There was stoppage in the 53rd minute due to two separate injuries. The Quakes’ Cummings came out only to return straight after. Jahmir Hyka was not as fortunate, but Wondolowski came in as the substitute.

A scary head-to-head collision occurred going for the ball between Florian Jungwirth and Calvo in the 85th minute. Both remained in the match.

Game Notes: Jungwirth also had an aerial clearance in the first half and when the Loons had momentum from one end to the other, as the lone defender on the field, Jungwirth was able to keep up and make a stop in the second. Minnesota’s Alexi Gomez had a game-high five shots. Eriksson had a career-high four shots.

Up Next: The Quakes will have their first short turnaround when they play again Wednesday at 7:30 pm PT to see Vancouver Whitecaps FC.