San Francisco Giants Podcast with Michael Duca: Cain taking to relief role; Samardzija improved record since Jul 21st

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

On the Giants Podcast with Miguel:

1 Matt Cain’s role as reliever and how it will work out. Cain pitched an inning of relief on Monday night against the Milwaukee Brewers and got the Giants out of that inning

2 Jeff Samardzija had another great performance going innings, six hits, two runs both earned

3 Despite the loss Samardjiza improved his record going forward since July 21st to 4-1 and lowered his ERA to 3.43

4. Pablo Sandoval has actually played a lot better than expected coming out of Boston where he was dubbed a flop but since return to San Francisco has hit .280.

5. Hunter Pence says his hamstring was tightening up on him since Monday night and is currently out of the line up but knowing Pence he’ll get  better quick and get back in the line up

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

SF’s Bullpen falters again in late innings 4-3; Shaw’s double keys win for Brew Crew

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Milwaukee Brewers’ Stephen Vogt slides after being tagged out at home plate in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, in San Francisco. Vogt attempted to score on a single by Brewers’ Orlando Arcia. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-Things were looking good for the San Francisco Giants, but then the seventh inning happened.

Travis Shaw doubled off of Albert Suarez in the top of the seventh inning to score Neil Walker with the eventual game-winning run, as the Milwaukee Brewers came back to defeat the Giants 4-3 before a crowd of 39,523 at AT&T Park.

The Shaw double just after Ryan Braun tied up the game with a sacrifice fly off of Suarez that scored Eric Thames from third base. Thames walked with one out, and then went to third on a Walker double.

With the loss, coupled with the Los Angeles Dodgers victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park, the Giants fell 40 games behind the Dodgers in the National League West.

This is the first time since the 1943 season that the Giants have been behind by 40 games in a season. When the season ended, the Giants finished 49.5 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals.

With a chance to tie up the game in the bottom of the ninth inning, Kelby Tomlinson hit an infield single; however, he was then thrown out at second base by Manny Pina for the first out of the inning.

Corey Knebel was then able to get Jarrett Parker to pop out to Orlando Arcia at shortstop and then struck out Buster Posey for his 27th save of the season.

The throw out of Tomlinson was the second big defensive play by the Brewers in as many innings, as Hector Perez threw out Nick Hundley at the plate on a perfect tag by Pina.

Brandon Crawford hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning to give the Giants the lead. The two-run home run by Crawford also scored Posey, who walked just prior to Crawford’s 11th home run of the season and his first since he went deep against Zach Eflin of the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night.

Keon Broxton gave the Brewers the lead in the top of the fourth inning, as his fly ball to Gorkys Hernandez was dropped for an error that allowed former Oakland A’s second baseman Eric Sogard score from first base. Sogard singled with two outs, as he picked up two hits and a walk on the evening.

Broxton drove in the Brewers first run of the game and the series in the top of the second inning, as he singled to score Domingo Santana, who walked with one out in the frame.

Hernandez tied up the game in the bottom of the second inning, as he singled to score Posey, who led off the inning with a single.

It was a tough no-decision for Jimmy Nelson, who pitched five innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, walking three and striking out six.

Like Nelson, it was a tough no-decision for Jeff Samardzija, who pitched six strong innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits, while walking two and striking out four.

NOTES: Matt Moore closes out the series and the home stand, as he takes the mound on Wednesday afternoon, while the Brewers counter with Matt Garza.

Hunter Pence was in the original starting lineup, but was scratched from the game with a tight left hamstring.

Pence made a pinch-hitting appearance in the bottom of the eighth inning with two outs against Anthony Swarzak, and he walked on five pitches.

Johnny Cueto made a rehab start for the Sacramento Rivercats, and he pitched three innings, allowing zero runs on three hits, walking no one and striking out one. Cueto threw 47 pitches 32 strikes.

Cueto was not the only Giants player to be in Sacramento on the evening, as Joe Panik also made a rehab start for the Rivercats, as he went 0-for-2 with a strikeout.

It was the 200th career victory for Brewers manager Craig Counsell, who replaced Ron Roenicke as manager in May of 2015.

Oakland A’s Podcast with Charlie O: Kinsler and Hernandez beef still stewing; Lowrie’s a keeper

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland Athletics’ Khris Davis, left, high-fives teammate Jed Lowrie after hitting a solo home run in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles in Baltimore, Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017. Oakland won 6-4. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

By Charlie O

Charlie discusses umpire Angel Hernandez and the umpires complaint about players like Detroit’s Ian Kinsler and others who argue balls and strikes but take it up to another level. Such was the case when Kinsler criticized Hernandez saying he just simply blew his ball an strike calling which got him a fine of $10,000 fine which Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said that was the largest fine he’d seen in his decades in baseball.

The A’s right now virtually have to keep second baseman Jed Lowrie who was being shopped by the club until the A’s realized he’d be more of an asset staying. The A’s of right now are in the midst of a rebuilding situation and you have to realize that and Jed’s 32 years old. So the A’s have Jed and he’s got an option into next year.

There’s much more with Charlie O on the A’s podcast each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

It’s A’s turn to play bombs away as they hit four big flys and beat the Orioles 6-4

Published on by rxsluggerLeave a comment

by Jerry Feitelberg

Baltimore- The A’s sent the Orioles down to defeat as they, as the Orioles did Monday night, had a four-homer game and won by a score of 6-4. The A’s Paul Blackburn was pitching very well until the top of the fifth. The O’s Trey Mancini reached when his line shot hit Blackburn on his right wrist. Bob Melvin and trainer Nick Paparesta flew out to the mound to see if there was any damage. Blackburn was in pain and was not able to pitch. The A’s were holding their collective breaths until word came that Blackburn did not fracture his wrist. BoMel said this:”hopefully, we dodged a bullet. (There was ) No, no fracture, no break. So we are calling it a hand/bruise. We’ll see how he’s doing in a couple of days.”

The A’s offense went on the attack in the very first inning. Leadoff hitter, Boog Powell, singled and scored when Jed Lowrie hit his twelfth homer of the season to put the A’s up 2-0. Jiminez retired Matt Joyce and Khris Davis but was victimized by Ryon Healy who hit an opposite field blast to give the A’s a 3-0 lead. It was Healy’s twenty-second tater of the campaign.

The A’s plated two more runs in the top of the fifth. Matt Joyce doubled. Jiminez retired Khris Davis but served up another pitch to Healy that would leave the yard. Healy now has four two-homer games this season, and it was his twenty-third of the season. O’s manager Buck Showalter let Jiminez finish the inning, but he was done for the night. His line was five innings pitched, and he allowed nine hits and five runs as well as three homers. Jiminez has served up twenty-nine gopher-balls so far this year.

Blackburn started the fifth but had to leave when he was hit on the wrist. His line was four plus innings of work, and he recorded ten ground ball outs. He kept the O’s hitters off balance as he was able to move the ball up and down as well as in and out of the zone. After the injury, Simon Castro pitched the fifth and sixth innings. The Orioles scored twice in the sixth. O’s catcher Caleb Joseph singled and scored on Manny Machado’s two-run blast.

Liam Hendriks retired the O’s in order in the seventh, but the O’s rallied to score two more in the eighth. Melvin brought in Daniel Coulombe to pitch to Chris Davis. Davis walked. Melvin brought in Chris Hatcher. Hatcher gave up a single to Tim Beckham. Manny Machado walked to load the bases. Melvin made another pitching change as he summoned Blake Treinen to shut down the O’s. The strategy didn’t work. The O’s Jonathan Schoop, one of the best RBI producer in the AL singled to drive in two. Treinen retired Adam Jones for the final out of the eighth.

The A’s Khris Davis provided the team with an insurance run in the ninth. In the bottom of the ninth, the O’s leadoff hitter, Trey Mancini, reached on a Chad Pinder throwing error. Treinen induced Matt Trumbo to hit into a 5-4-3 double play and then struck out Chris Davis for the final out.

Game Notes- The A’s made a couple of base running blunders in the top of the eighth. Pinder reached on an infield hit, and Matt Chapman doubled to put men on at second and third with no out. Bruce Maxwell ground out to Jonathan Schoop. The O’s infield was drawn in, and Schoop’s throw to Caleb Joseph nailed Pinder for the first out. Chapman went to third on the play. Boog Powell attempted a safety squeeze, but the O’s were up to the challenge. The ball was fielded by the pitcher Bleier. Bleier was able to get Chapman caught in a rundown. He was tagged out. Maxwell advanced to third, and Powell went to second. Lowrie grounded out to end the inning.

Game three of the series will be played at Camden Yards Wednesday afternoon at 12:05 pm. Sean Manaea will pitch for Oakland and he will be opposed by Dylan Bundy.

San Francisco Giants feature: BRAD GULDEN–The original Humm Baby

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

photo courtesy of Mothers Cookies: Former San Francisco Giants catcher circa 1986 Brad Gulden was called the original Humm Baby by then manager Roger Craig

By Tony The Tiger Hayes

SAN FRANCISCO–He was a Giant?

Gulden was more than your prototypical, chunky legged back-up catcher – he was also the original Giants’ “Humm-baby.”

The well traveled receiver would appear in just 17 games for the plucky 1986 club, but the hard-nosed style of play Gulden displayed in training camp helped spark a rebirth of the club’s winning clubhouse culture.

After one particularly gritty Cactus League game performance, new Giants manager Roger Craig gushed over the third stringer, calling him a legitimate “Humm-baby.”

Whatever that was.

We soon came to know that “Humm-baby” was practically the highest honor the San Fran skipper could bestow on a Giant.

A derivation of “come-on-baby” , the term “Humm-baby” would come to capsulate the blue collar Giants club over the course of Craig’s seven year Giants managerial term to praise a hustling player, an old school winning play or uncompromising effort.

The slogan was additionally used in Giants marketing campaigns, was emblazoned on bumper stickers and came to define one of the most exciting periods of west coast Orange & Black baseball.

Why was he a Giant?

Based purely on his physical tools Gulden was a major leaguer by the skin of his teeth, but it was his gamer attitude that helped land the backstop a spot on the Giants ’86 opening day roster as a third string catcher behind Bob Brenly and Bob Melvin. Initially he remain with the club into May before going to Triple-A Phoenix before returning to the majors in September.

Before & After

Gulden originally arrived in the majors with the Dodgers but didn’t stay long, moving on to the Yankees, Expos, Mariners and Reds, before signing with the Giants in ’86. In 1979, Gulden auditioned to replace the late Thurman Munson in New York, but hit just .163 in a career high 40 contests. The Giants were is final big league stop.

He wasn’t Terry Kennedy. But…

Gulden batted just .091, (2-for-22) with San Francisco, but still found a way to crack on the Dodgers (5/11/86), driving home the winning run with RBI single off Tom Niedenfuer in the 11th inning of a 9-8 win at Los Angeles.

Giants Footprint

Coincidently, in Gulden’s final big league game, it took a classic “Humm-baby” team-wide Giants performance to topple the Dodgers 6-5 in 16-innings, nearly six hour game (9/28/86). Candy Maldonado tied the game in the ninth with a pinch home run, then Bob Brenly plated the winning run with a single in the 16th. The Giants used 25 players, including a couple pitchers who were forced into outfield duty. Gulden struck out in a pinch hitting at bat.

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Felo Ramirez was like a part of my family; Marlins Spanish announcer passes away at 94

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

On August 21, 2017 when the talk was the Solar Eclipse, I was arriving at the Long Beach Airport on my way later to the Rangers vs Angels game at Angel Stadium, Anaheim. The morning after, on August 22nd, I learned about the passing of my mentor, friend and what I have considered him, part of my family. Rafaed”Felo”Ramirez who has been broadcasting since 1945 and was the Spanish Voice for all Miami Marlins games, since that team began in the National League in 1993.

Felo was 94 years of age. Early this season, an accident in Philadelphia as he was traveling with the Marlins, sent him to a hospital in nearby Delaware, and he never called another game. He slipped and fell as he was coming out of the team bus.

My mother Olga used to tell me all the time, that while in Cuba I would get a broom, turn it upside-down in the patio of our home in Havana and do an imitation of Felo. I must have been 14 or 15 then. Yes, I always listened to the games on Cuban radio them of the old Cuban Winter Professional League, and Felo was the guy. I never met Felo while I live in Cuba in the first 17 years of my life (I left for Miami in 1961 to live with my aunt, I was 17).

Knowing Felo was a real cool thing, like the kids would say today, because even though his age was 94, he was young and sounded young on the air. In 1998 I got a call from producer Armando Talavera from New York City, who asked me to work with Felo during the National League Championship Series for the Caracol International Network, to the USA and all of Latinamerica, over 200 radio stations in that network. I remember before we went on the air for the first game I asked him if it was OK for me to mention that I used to listen to him in Cuba when I was a little boy, he said: “desde luego” trans- “of course”. We had a great time working together, his memory and knowledge of the game was amazing. Felo called also many boxing matches, very important ones during his career, but baseball is what he was known for and is enshrined in every conceivable Baseball Hall of Fame in the world.

As a person that was born in Cuba, for me (like for many Cubans around the world) especially those that follow baseball, and for Cubans baseball is part of our lives, he was the Voice of Baseball.

I thank God that I was able to meet this man, work with him and share time with him.

There will never be another Felo.

Descansa en Paz Felo.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez lived to have his dream come true when he got to work with Felo Ramirez in the broadcast booth at the 1998 NLCS for Caracol International Network, Amaury is the Spanish voice at the Oakland A’s and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s Podcast, News, and Commentary: Hall of Famer, Miami Marlins Spanish announcer, mentor passes away at 94

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

On the cover photo: Felo Ramirez Miami Marlins Hall of Fame Spanish broadcaster who passed away in Miami at age 94 and has been broadcasting baseball since 1945

On That’s Amaury’s Podcast:

1 Miami Marlins Spanish radio broadcaster and Hall of Famer Felo Ramirez passed away on Monday at the age of 94. Felo was a mentor to a young Amaury Pi Gonzalez who imagined broadcasting games in his bedroom in Miami while listening to Felo’s broadcasts. Felo broke into broadcasting calling baseball and boxing in 1945. Felo joined the Miami Marlins since the inception of the team in 1993 calling their games on radio in Spanish. He called 30 All Star games and World Series during his illustrious career

2 Ian Kinsler of the Detroit Tigers picks up a fine that is substantial at $10,000 for arguing balls and strikes with umpire Angel Hernandez.  Hernandez with the World Umpires Association said that they were tired of the continued abuse by MLB players and Kinsler in particular of not only arguing ball and strikes but being ridiculed by the players. Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said the fine was too far excessive.

3 The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees are in a bidding war for the Marlins Giancarlo Stanton. Stanton who most likely will end up with one of those franchises by the end of the month

4 San Francico Giants manager Bruce Bochy stood by his catcher Buster Posey saying that Phillies pitcher Hector Neris deliberately threw at Posey in the back on Sunday adding that Neris was an idiot

5 The LA Angels Mike Trout and the Angels might have struggled in the last few weeks of the season but nonetheless the club is in post season play and it gives Trout an opportunity to turn it up a notch to see how far LA can go in post season

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s Spanish radio talent, the Los Angeles Angels TV Spanish talent and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Stratton impresses again, shuts down Brewers 2-0

Published on by moepeaLeave a comment
AP17234134282344
San Francisco Giants’ Jarrett Parker, center, scores on a double by Brandon Crawford in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, in San Francisco. At left is Brewers pitcher Zach Davies, at right catcher Stephen Vogt. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Consecutive victories, playoff caliber opponents, 12 plus innings and no earned runs allowed? Chris Stratton is establishing himself as a big league starter, news that couldn’t be more welcome for the officially postseason-eliminated Giants.

Stratton followed up his gem in Washington against the Nationals with six, shutout innings against the NL Central contending Brewers on Monday. The Nats were without a couple key, offensive threats, but Stratton excelled with ten strikeouts. The Brewers had their heavy hitters in the lineup, but managed just four hits. Consequently, on a club where opportunities are to be had by those that are ready, Stratton is moving toward the top of the list.

“Jones, Parker, Stratton, they’re trying to show they belong in the major leagues,” manager Bruce Bochy said after the Giants 2-0 win, their first shutout victory at home this season.

So good was Stratton, he not only carried the Giants past the Brewers and 14-game winner Zach Davies, he lightened the mood in the clubhouse after the game. While being interviewed by the assembled media, Stratton was interrupted by catcher Nick Hundley, making light of the rookie pitcher’s only strikeout on Monday. Stratton took the slight in stride.

“I just left all the strikeouts in Washington, I guess,” Stratton shot back.

Stratton’s scoreless streak is the longest by a rookie pitcher since Chris Heston went more than 15 innings without allowing a run in 2015. Stratton spotted his fastball and changeup with consistency, and he and three relievers kept the Brewers without a hit after Stephen Vogt singled in the fourth inning.

“He did a good job of just not going over the middle of the plate,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “The wind early in the game killed some balls we hit to right. But it was more of how good he was.”

Brandon Crawford’s RBI double in the fourth got the Giants on the board, and two outs later, Hundley’s groundout scored Hunter Pence. The rail-thin Davies grew stingy after that but lost on the road for the first time in 2017 after seven victories.

The Brewers had won six of seven coming in, but fell 2 1/2 games behind the Cubs in the NL Central and 3 1/2 games behind the Diamondbacks with the loss. The Giants are 10-1 against Milwaukee in their last 11 meetings in San Francisco.

Jeff Samardzija looks to continue his mid-season surge in a matchup with the Brewers’ Jimmy Nelson  at 7:15pm on Tuesday.

 

 

 

It’s bombs away in Baltimore as Orioles hammer four home runs to win game one of the three-game series 7-3

Published on by rxsluggerLeave a comment

Baltimore Orioles’ Adam Jones, center rounds the bases past third base coach Bobby Dickerson after hitting a solo home run during a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Baltimore, Monday, Aug. 21, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

by Jerry Feitelberg

Baltimore- The Baltimore Orioles, fighting to gain ground in the race for the second Wild Card slot, slammed four home runs against A’s pitching Monday night in the first game of the three-game series. The A’s hit two solo home runs but fell to the Orioles 7-3. The Orioles’ lineup is loaded with power hitters, and they can knock the ball out of the park that is a hitters’ paradise, Camden Yards.

The A’s took an early lead in the second inning. It didn’t last long as the O’s tied the game in the bottom of the frame. In the fourth, the O’s took the lead for good when Adam Jones blasted his twenty-third of the year into the left field seats.

The Orioles put the game out of reach in the fifth. They sent nine men to the plate as they tallied four runs. Chris Smith walked former A’s outfielder Seth Smith to start the inning. Manny Machado reached on a fielding error by Matt Chapman. The error was the 100th of the year committed by the A’s. The next hitter, All-Star Jonathan Schoop homered. That blast finished Chris Smith’s night. Bob Melvin brought in Ryan Dull to pitch. Adam Jones took Dull deep for his second of the night and 24th of the season. It was Jones second two-homer game this year and twelfth of his career. The O’s lead 6-1 after five.

The A’s Jed Lowrie hit a solo homer in the sixth, and center-fielder Boog Powell hit the first of his career in the eighth. Powell’s ball was hit way back in right field and landed in the BBQ place owned by the former Orioles star first baseman, the original Boog Powell.

O’s catcher Wellington Castillo homered in the eighth to make the final score 7-3.

Game Notes-  Adam Jones of the Orioles was the hitting star of the night as he went four-for-four and had two home runs. Lefty Wade Miley, who beat the A’s in Oakland a few days ago, did it again. Miley went six innings and allowed just five hits and two runs. His record improved to 7-10.  The A’s Chris Smith absorbed his third loss and is 0-3 for the season.

The A’s Boog Powell is scheduled to meet the O’s  Boog Powell Tuesday afternoon sometime before the start of the game.

The A’s are now 54-71 while the Orioles improve to 61-64.

Game two of the series will be played Tuesday night at Camden Yards in Baltimore. Game time is set for 4:05 pm

Paul Blackburn will pitch for the A’s and Ubaldo Jiminez will go for the Orioles

San Francisco Giants Podcast with Morris Phillips: Posey says he was hit in the back deliberately; Bochy says it’s the team’s job to beat clubs like the Phils

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey (28) is hit by the first pitch thrown from Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Hector Neris (not shown), during a MLB game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California. Valerie Shoaps/CSM (Cal Sport Media via AP Images)

On the Giants podcast with Morris:

1.San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey said that Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Hector Neris deliberately hit him on the back with a pitch during Sunday’s game at AT&T Park. Neris said in that situation in the eighth inning you don’t want to hit anybody as the Phillies were trying to hold onto a two run lead at that point. Neris said it didn’t make sense to hit Posey.

2.The Giants in dropping the 5-2 decision to the Phils, Giants manager Bruce Bochy says the team’s job was to go out and beat the Phils and the last thing Bochy wanted to do is go out and lose to the worst team in the NL

3.Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner went six innings giving up four hits and a run. Mad Bum looked good enough to complete the game but the pitch count caught up with him at 111 and he was lifted and the bull pen couldn’t finish.

4.On the concussion front Brandon Belt is still working and rehabbing in the gym and Giant second baseman has moved up to the batting cage and took some swings on Monday night before the Giants game against Milwaukee.

5.The NL Central’s second place team the Milwaukee Brewers will be AT&T Park Mon-Wed. The Brewers are playing for keeps as their headed for post season. This is a series that Bochy doesn’t want to lose.

Morris Phillips does the Giants podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com