San Francisco Giants-Los Angeles Dodgers Preview: Dodgers worst enemy isn’t their rivals the Giants but themselves

Published on by jeremy2878Leave a comment

San Francisco Giants pitcher Jeff Samardzija this Friday’s starter in Los Angeles works against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 15, 2017, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

By Jeremy Harness

 At one point, the Los Angeles Dodgers were flying high atop the major leagues, with no one being able to stop them but themselves.

 Well, the Dodgers have stopped themselves quite a bit lately.

 Although they have clinched a playoff spot, the Dodgers still have not closed out the NL West at this point. That’s because the team has suffered a sudden stretch of ineptitude after absolutely cruising for the first six-and-a-half months of the season and building a sizable lead.

 At press time, the Dodgers still lead the second-place Arizona Diamondbacks by nine games and can wrap up the division this weekend, if not sooner.

 The magic number to clinch the division for Los Angeles is one, so the Dodgers can wrap up the NL West crown Friday night, when the Giants head to Dodger Stadium to start a three-game series.

 The last-place Giants, on the other hand, are playing for nothing more at this point than to spoil things for their upcoming opponents, and they would love nothing more than to set the Dodgers back in their quest to not only clinch the division but to also stake their claim to the best record in the majors.

 The 60-93 Giants will send Jeff Samardzija (9-14, 4.42 ERA) to the mound against Dodgers lefty Rich Hill (10-8, 3.60 ERA) for Friday’s opener.

 After a miserable start to the year, Samardzija had a stretch between Jul. 26 and Aug. 28 that saw him five of six decisions. However, he has lost his last two starts but had a solid outing in his last start, last Friday in a losing effort against Arizona that saw him surrender three runs on six hits. He struck out seven hitters and did not walk anyone.

 Hill, meanwhile, has lost four of his last five starts, but he seemed to get things back together in his most recent outing, surrendering only a run on one hit while walking two and striking out seven more over five strong innings against the Washington Nationals.

 

NFL Podcast with Tony Renteria: Defense was problem in Seattle game; 49ers look like a lack of offense against the Rams Thursday night; Raiders look road ready for Sunday Night Football

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brian Hoyer (2) throws a pass against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

On the NFL podcast with Tony:

1 The San Francisco 49ers who played last Sunday to a 12-9 loss in Seattle Tony takes a look and some of the mistakes made in that game and what the 49ers need to do to get back in the win column.

2 49ers quarterback Brian Hoyer like Sunday in Seattle struggled most of Thursday night but the 49ers did get a touchdown score in the first period but has trailed most of the game with the Los Angeles Rams

3 Tony discusses some of the things that 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan will be looking to improve in the game with the Rams

4 The Oakland Raiders play Sunday Night Football at Washington. The Raiders are playing their second road game are looking like the best team on both sides of the ball and should be able to take this game from Washington

5 The Raiders left little doubt in their handling of the New York Jets last Sunday and they go in with momentum this Sunday night and Tony tells you all about it

Tony Renteria does the San Francisco 49ers podcast each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

 

Oakland-Washington Preview: Raiders travel East for prime-time game against Redskins

Published on by jhawkes51Leave a comment

Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch (24) is congratulated by quarterback Derek Carr (4) and tackle Donald Penn (72) after scoring a touchdown against the New York Jets during the first half of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
Sports Radio Service Writer

OAKLAND — Coming off a dominate 45-20 Week 2 victory against the lowly New York Jets in their home opener, the Raiders (2-0) play their first of five prime-time games with a cross-country trip to Washington to face the Redskins at FedEx Field with a 5:25 p.m. PT kickoff.

This will be the first game between the two teams since 2013, which resulted in a 24-14 win for Washington in Week 4 at Oakland.

Derek Carr shredded the Jets, completing 23-of-28 for 230 yards and three touchdowns, all to wide receiver Michael Crabtree. Crabtree led all receivers with six receptions for 80 yards while Carr posted a 136.6 passer rating in the game.

Oakland’s running game found open lanes in New York’s defense, racking up 180 yards on the ground, with a 6.7 yards per carry.

Running back Jalen Richard and wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson each scored long rushing touchdowns, 52 and 43 yards respectfully. Oakland’s native son, Marshawn Lynch, scored his first touchdown in front of his hometown fans in the second quarter.

Lynch finished with 12 carries for 45 yards and one overly-publicized dance on the sideline early in the fourth quarter with the Raiders holding a commanding 35-13 lead.

Defensively, Oakland’s defense was sound, holding the Jets to 271 yards of total offense and forcing one fumble by safety Karl Joseph, who also registered his first career sack. Joseph’s sack was one of four recorded by the Silver and Black on the day.

Safety Reggie Nelson led the team with eight tackles and first-round rookie cornerback Gareon Conley made his NFL debut, recording a pass break up.

Washington (1-1) won in Los Angeles 27-20 behind a 11-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kirk Cousins to wide receiver Ryan Grant in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter.

Cousins finished 18-of-27 passing for 179 yards.

Washington’s top play-makers are tight end Jordan Reed and former Oakland quarterback-turned-wide receiver Terrelle Pryor led the Redskins in receptions (11) and receiving yards (97) respectfully.

While veteran Rob Kelley (22) and rookie running back Samaje Perrine (21) get the majority of carries, fourth-year runner Chris Thompson leads the team with two rushing touchdowns.

Chris Thompson is also a great pass catcher out of the backfield, hauling in one of two Washington’s touchdowns through the air to go along with seven catches for 81 yards this year.

On defense, linebacker Zach Brown is a tackling machine, ranking third in the NFL in tackles with 22 entering Week 3. Third-year linebacker Preston Smith leads the Redskins with two sacks, while fellow linebacker Ryan Kerrigan is second on the team with 1.5 sacks.

The seven-year pro from Purdue has one of Washington’s two interceptions for the season, returning it 24 yards for a touchdown.

Prediction: Raiders 28-17.

Oakland’s offense led by Carr have too many weapons for Washington to handle. Washington’s cornerback tandem of Bashaud Breeland and the trash-talking Josh Norman will be a great test for Oakland’s wide receiving combo of the aforementioned Crabtree, and Amari Cooper, but Carr has improved his throwing mechanics and now can make every throw seem effortless.

Combined that with a versatile ground attack led by Lynch and Richard, (not to mention DeAndre Washington) to go-along with a wild-card like Patterson, Washington will have problems covering all the players the entire night.

This game in Washington could be a “trap” game for the Silver and Black, with a trip to Denver looming in Week 4 if they take the Redskins lightly.

Don’t expect that to happen Sunday night from the Nation’s Capital for the Raiders who have bigger goals in mind this season.

 

 

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS PREVIEW: 49ers have to avoid going 0-3

Published on by jeremy2878Leave a comment

AP Photo File: New York Jets quarterback Bryce Petty (9) rolls on his back after being sacked by San Francisco 49ers strong safety Jimmie Ward (25) Ward is suffering a hamstring injury but is expected to play Thursday night against the Los Angeles Rams. This photo from an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

By Jeremy Harness

SANTA CLARA– Only two games into the season, the 49ers already have their backs against the wall.

 After a tough loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, the 49ers have to turn around quickly and try and pick up their first victory Thursday night at Levi’s Stadium. To do it, they will face a Los Angeles Rams team that go into Thursday’s game with a 1-1 record after an emphatic win over Indianapolis in the season’s first week.

 The 49ers, on the other hand, are currently 0-2 and can ill afford to get off to an 0-3 start. On the positive side, however, the 49ers have had recent success against the Rams, as both of their victories last season came against Los Angeles.

 In the meantime, there are some injury concerns for the 49ers.

 Linebacker Reuben Foster is nursing a high right ankle sprain and will miss Thursday’s game, and there is no telling when he will return. However, there was a huge sign of encouragement that showed up on Wednesday when Foster was without the stabilizing boot that he had been wearing the past week and a half.

 Besides the absence of Foster, the 49ers are also hurting in the secondary. Eric Reid suffered a sprain of his posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the team’s loss on Sunday at Seattle and is expected to miss at least one game because of it.

 Jimmie Ward (hamstring) and Jaquiski Tartt (neck) were also injured during Sunday’s game, but they were at least able to practice on Wednesday, although it was in a limited capacity. Both are expected to be able to play Thursday but are listed as questionable.

 On the offensive side of the ball, the 49ers have a good thing going in the run game, as Carlos Hyde had a good deal of success running the ball against a usually-tough Seattle defense, and he should have more of that against a Rams defense that did not have a good showing in Sunday’s loss to Washington.

 However, the passing game certainly needs to improve, as quarterback Brian Hoyer acknowledged after Sunday’s game that his performance was less than stellar and needs to get better if the 49ers are going to have sustained success offensively.

 

Oakland A’s Podcast with Charlie O: Charlie takes you on a tour of Comerica in Detroit as A’s sweep

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Daniel Mengden is greeted in the dugout after the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Charlie O with the A’s Podcast:

1) Charlie talks about the Motor City experience- how did you like Comerica Park?

2) A look at Detroit a real sports & entertainment center

3) A review of Wednesday’s game between the A’s & Tigers

4) What about this sweep & the entire road trip how wild how it been?

5) What about the series coming up with Texas – what should we expect?

6) What should be the A’s goals for the rest of the season?

7) What’s your opinion of the new ballpark site?

Charlie O covers A’s baseball for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

 

Engaged Giants sweep short series against the suddenly, tumbling Rockies

Published on by moepeaLeave a comment

 

AP17263778697205
San Francisco Giants second baseman Joe Panik makes an off-balance throw trying to throw out Colorado Rockies’ Charlie Blackmon at first base during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, in San Francisco. Blackmon was safe at first base on the play (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–The Giants didn’t crawl any closer to 100 losses. Folks sitting in the right field arcade got to chase after a home run ball hit by the good guys. And Matt Moore didn’t surrender any extra-base hits.

For the thought-to-be forlorn Giants, today was a good day.

For the struggling Rockies, not so much.

“It’s easy to get in that shut down mode this time of the year when you’re out of it,” manager Bruce Bochy said after his Giants swept the Rockies with a 4-0 shutout. “I think if you look at these two games, that has not happened. These guys have stepped up and hit the field meaning business.”

Meaning business is a term used on a sliding scale for the 30th-out-of-30 Giants.  Still a 4-4 home stand against the Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Rockies says the team’s engaged, and the individual players want a role in Giants baseball going forward.

In Moore’s case, Wednesday’s game was a definitive statement. Notified that the club would be picking up his 2018 option earlier this week, this was no time for the pitcher to go out and pick up his National League-worst 15th loss.

Instead, Moore was fantastic, throwing six shutout innings, allowing six singles while walking two, and striking out six. Not only was the outing Moore’s best of the year, it was his best in the face of his 0-2, 13.50 ERA against the Rockies, and his 5.39 ERA overall.

In other words, wholely satisfying as has his overall body of work been disappointing. Think the Giants embracing the embattled pitcher with that contract extension played a role in Wednesday’s about face? Here’s what Moore said:

“For Bobby and the front office to show that kind of confidence before they had to, without a doubt, it’s probably the best thing that’s happened all year.”

Offensively, the Giants weren’t the knockout that Moore was, but what they did–for the second straight day–totaled four runs, and four is the magic number.

In games the Giants score three runs or less, they’re a barely-alive 13-72. When they score four or more, they’re a totally-engaged 47-21.

Joe Panik led the way with three hits, including a first-inning triple that resulted in the Giants’ first run. He would later add a double and a single, but didn’t get a fifth at-bat and an opportunity to hit for the cycle.

Brandon Crawford homered in the third, a first pitch liner down the right field line off losing pitcher Tyler Chatwood.

Hunter Pence walked and later scored in the seventh, as three Rockies’ relievers failed to close the door after Chatwood departed. Pence finished 0 for 3, but like Panik saw a nice jump in his offensive numbers over the eight-game homestand.

The Rockies captured 10 of the first 11 games between the two clubs this season, but the Giants struck back with wins in six of the final eight contests. The Rockies’ season-to-date mirrors the 2016 Giants with the fast starts and an agonizingly poor finish. The Rockies started 47-26, but they’re 35-44 since, and their lead over the Brewers for the second, wild card spot is down to one game after both teams lost Wednesday. The similarities between the two seasons weren’t lost on Chatwood.

“I think we came in here and beat them two out of three at the very end of last year when they were in the wild card, so I think that’s what you kind of play for is to interrupt somebody’s run for the playoffs,” Chatwood said.

 

 

Athletics down Tigers 3-2 Wednesday to sweep the 3-game series on the road

Published on by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment

DET Mengden

by Charlie O. Mallonee

Detroit — The Oakland Athletics have been the worst road team in all of baseball several times this season. They have been strong defenders of their home field, but the road has been their nemesis. Since a major league team plays 81 of their 162 games on the road, learning to win in the other guy’s park is mandatory.

The Athletics embarked on this nine-game road trip to Boston, Philadelphia and Detroit needing to prove to themselves that they could win on the road, and that is exactly what they did.

Wednesday in Detroit was a crowing effort for the A’s

The A’s had won the first two games of the series in Detroit. They had compiled a 5-3 record on the road. With Wednesday being a day/get-away game to head back to the Bay Area, it would have been very easy to have a mental let down and just go through the motions to get out of town in order to get home.

The Athletics did not do that. They played tough. They played solid defense behind their starting pitcher Daniel Mengden. The Athletics worked to get runs when they could and they won the game.

They also swept the three-game series at Comerica Park and finished the nine-game road trip with a record of 6-3.

Manager Bob Melvin was a happy man after the win on Wednesday

Pitching dictated the ultimate outcome of the game

Athletics starter Daniel Mengden threw seven shutout innings and extended his scoreless inning streak to 16-innings which is the longest for any A’s pitcher this season. He gave up no runs on seven hits. One of the big keys to his win was the fact that he did not issue a walk. Mengden struck out four Tigers. His record is now 2-1 with an ERA of 3.30.

Ryan Dull came to relieve Mengden in the eighth inning and set the Tigers down in order. It looked like the final inning would be uneventful.

Dull came out for the ninth because Melvin was hoping to rest his overworked bullpen. Dull walked the first batter he faced — Efren Navarro. Mikie Mahtook then hit a 1-1 pitch from Dull for a double that moved Navarro up to third. Pitching coach Scott Emerson came out for a visit before Dull went back to work.

Dull struck out the next batter he faced — pinch-hitter Tyler Collins — for the first out of the inning. Andrew Romine then stepped into the box and hit a single to right that drove Navarro and Mahtook home to make it a 3-2 game.

That was all for Dull as Bob Melvin brought Liam Hendriks in from the pen. There was also an injury delay as catcher Bruce Maxwell had to come out of the game after taking a ball off the mask. He was replaced by Phegley.

Hendricks was able to get Jose Iglesias to ground into a force out that erased Romine and left Iglesias at first on the fielder’s choice. With Alex Presley batting, Iglesias moved up to second on a wild pitch. Presley struck out swinging to end the game.

Hendricks was credited with a save but more importantly he put up a “Goose Egg” meaning he did not allow a run to score.

Detroit pitching

Tigers starter Anibal Sanchez pitched six-innings and allowed just one run (earned) on three hits. He walked three A’s and struck out eight. Sanchez threw an incredible 115 pitches (68 strikes). He was also tagged with the loss, so his record falls to 3-5.

The big problem for Detroit was their bullpen failed in its effort to throw “Goose Eggs”. Daniel Stumpf took over Sanchez in the seventh inning and gave up the two-run home to Marcus Semien that was the ultimate difference maker in the game.

Joe Jimenez and Zac Reininger each worked an inning of relief for Detroit and both posted “Goose Eggs” in the run column.

A’s batters

Marcus Semien was the man for Oakland in the big win on Wednesday. He not only hit the game deciding two-run home run in the seventh inning, but Semien posted all three of the Athletics RBI. In the series, he went 4-for-10 and scored four runs.

Catcher Bruce Maxwell went 2-for-4 in the game with a double and two runs scored. He is now hitting .315 in day game versus .205 under the lights. Guess who is catching the day games? Also, the initial reports are that Maxwell does not appear to have a concussion from the foul tip that caused him to leave the game in the ninth inning.

The Athletics scored three runs on six hits and left seven men on base. Their record improved to 69-83.

Detroit hitting

Nicholas Castellanos hit a single in the sixth inning which extended his hitting streak to a career-high 17 games. He hit .346 against the A’s in 2017.

Efren Navarro hit a single in the second inning that upped his hitting streak to five games. He now batting .400 — 6-for-15 — with a double and triple during the streak.

The Tigers posted two runs off nine hits and left eight runners on base. They also committed two errors. Detroit’s record now stands at 62-90.

Up next

The Athletics left for the Bay Area right after the game and will have Thursday off. The A’s begin a three-game series in Oakland with the Rangers on Friday night. RHP Kendall Graveman (5-4, 4.39) is scheduled to start for the Athletics. Texas has not named their starter.

The Tigers continue their homestand on Thursday as they begin a four-game series with the Twins.

San Francisco Giants Podcast with Michael Duca: Giants now make it three straight; Sabean to evaluate in off season

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Matt Moore throws to the Colorado Rockies during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

1 San Francisco Giants vice president Brian Sabean says this off season will be the time to retool the team. After the Giants had a second half melt down in 2016 they ended up failing to make post season and as a consequence the Giants only real big off season moves they fired their first and third base coaches Roberto Kelly and Bill Hayes. Then the Giants wanted to shore up their bull pen and obtained Mark Melancon who struggled and got injured and ended up having to have surgery.

2 Taking a look at the significant changes and where the Giants need to shore up one place is in the outfield

3 The Giants have won three straight Sunday they got past the Arizona on Sunday, they got a walk off hit from Hunter Pence on Tuesday night to defeat Colorado 4-3 and Wednesday they shutout the Rockies 4-0 behind the brilliant pitching of Matt Moore who improved his record to 6-14. This team is doing everything it can to avoid a 100 game losing season.

4. Will Giancarlo Stanton become a Giant Michael says it’s unlikely, too many variables including his contract that he has with the Miami Marlins runs through 2020 and he has an option and another team could make an offer and he could opt out.

5 The Giants have a three game series coming up in Los Angeles starting on Friday night. The Dodgers need three more games to clinch the west and the Giants would like to win at least two out of three and the last thing that a club likes seeing is another team celebrating a division title after a game.

Michael Duca does the Giants podcast each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

 

 

Oakland A’s Podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Opposition to A’s new ball park piling on; Peralta faculty and Audubon Society raising issues

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

AP File Photo: New Oakland Athletics President David Kaval gestures during a media conference on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

1 The announcement of the Oakland A’s new ball park has sailed and that honeymoon is over. The Audubon Society is the first to throw their hat into the anti stadium movement saying the building a new park at Laney College would be disastrous for some 200 species of birds in what is considered the nation’s oldest refuge.

2 Audubon says their not anti baseball building at Lake Merritt is not the right location for a ballpark. The number one concern for the Audubon Society is the environmental issue and the wild life at Peralta College

3 Audubon also says with traffic and cars that with extra contaminants it would have an impact on wildlife at the Laney College location

4 The A’s have expressed that they want that location at Lake Merritt because of it’s close proximity to downtown, Chinatown, a nine minute walk to BART, and it’s  right there at the college

5 Also the Peralta faculty and community members have said they’ll also fight the new ball park saying it would effect the college’s educational mission, traffic conditions on game day would be horrendous, an it would also displace low income renters

Jerry Feitelberg covers Oakland A’s baseball for sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco 49ers Podcast with David Zizmor: 49ers needs some reworking for their offense; plus short four day turnaround as SF gets ready to host LA

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

On the 49ers podcast with Dave:

1 With the 49ers starting the season at 0-2 and losing to Seattle last Sunday 12-9 there was a lot of talk about. The 49ers being concerned about their offense and quarterback Jeff Hoyer. These are some of the things that 49ers general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan will be addressing week to week.

2 Dave also talks about the NFL scheduling of having the 49ers play in Seattle on Sunday and turn around with just four days rest and host the Los Angeles Rams for Thursday Night Football.

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