Las Vegas Raiders podcast Tony Renteria: Raiders defense just couldn’t put the brakes on Commanders

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Washington Commanders running back Jeremy McNicols (26) breaks free from the Las Vegas Raiders defense in the first half at Northwest Stadium in Landover MD on Sun Sep 21, 2025 (AP News photo)

Las Vegas Raiders podcast Tony Renteria:

#1 Washington Commanders (2-1) quarterback Marcus Mariota got lots of protection and had all day to throw against the Las Vegas Raiders (1-2) defense going 15-21, 207 yards, and one touchdown in the 41-24 win.

#2  Washington changed it’s playbook from their last game as nearly half of the starters in Sunday’s game were changed and Mariota was backing up for injured first stringer Jayden Daniels. Mariota got 201 yards on the ground against the Raiders and 174 in the first half.

#3 The Commanders set the tone in the first half taking a 20-10 lead at the half and that had Raiders head coach Pete Carroll concerned that the defense was not putting any pressure on Mariota who was getting time to throw.

#4 In the second half the Commanders outscored Las Vegas 21-14. The damage was done mostly in the first half and the Raiders couldn’t salvage it in the second half getting shutout in the third quarter and scoring twice on touchdowns thrown by quarterback Geno Smith at 12:57 to Tre Tucker for a ten yard pass and at 3:42 Smith hit Tucker for a 61 yard touchdown.

#5 The Chicago Bears who lost their first two games of the season and faced the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday at Soldier Field in Chicago. The Raiders will be hosting the Bears at Allegiant Stadium on Sun Sep 28 a 1:25pm PT kick off. Can the Raiders rebound after loses to the Los Angeles Chargers and the Commanders against a struggling Bears team?

Tony Renteria does the Raiders podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland Ballers Season wrap up: Ballers are the Champions in only their second season

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Oakland Ballers the 2025 Pioneer Champions celebrate their Championship victory over the Idaho Falls Chukars 8-1 on Sun Sep 21, 2025 (Oakland Ballers photo)

updated Tuesday, September 23, 2025

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–If the Oakland Ballers; two years in the Pioneer Baseball League, the reincarnation of the short season, affiliated Pioneer League, has taught us anything, it’s to expect the unexpected. A corollary of this insight is that no lead is safe and, as they say in the investment pitches, past performance is no guarantee of future profits.

Last year’s Ballers finished the season on top of the resurrected league only to be eliminated in the division series, the playoff round that precedes the championship round. This year’s Ballers set a PBL record for wins, going 73-23. The publicity departments of both the league and the team usually refer to this as “the modern era.” I prefer to call the two entities, which play (or played) by very different rules, by their distinct names. On their way to finishing first in both the halves of the regular season, the B’s won 13 consecutive series.

They faced tough opposition in the Idaho Falls Chukars, who had clinched the North Division championship by defeating the Missoula Paddlewheers, 22-3, after splitting the first two games of the division round.

The Chukars defeated the Ballers soundly in both of the games played in Idaho Falls, taking the opener, 5-3, on September 16.The B’s scored all of their runs in the first two frames. Tremayne Cobb was the only Baller to manage an extra base hit off the five hurlers the Chukars sent to the mound.

The next evening, Noah Millikan, the ace of Oakland’s starting rotation ,lasted a mere lasted a mere two-thirds of an inning, in which he managed to yield six runs, all earned, in a 15-10 drubbing that sent the teams back to Oakland, with the B’s needing to sweep the three games scheduled to be played in West Oakland.

A game in the friendly confines of Raimondi Park, where everybody knows your name, is a family affair. On the day the Ballers claimed the division crown, I had been in line behind the mother of umpire Ricardo Ramírez. l sat behind the mother of Ballers manager Aaron Miles, at the game on Saturday the 20th, when the B’s tied the Championship Round at two all. We jabbered away all game long.

Friendships form quickly at Raimondi, and I’ve met some wonderful people there whom I’m now proud to call, not just my baseball buddies, but friends.

Friday, September 19th, in the first of three elimination games over the weekend, Oakland stayed alive by trouncing Idaho Falls, 10-2, with a 13 hit onslaught led by Tyler Lozano, who went 3-4, with two RBI, and two hits each by Tremayne Cobb, Christian Almanza, and Danny Harris. Almanza and Lozano went yard. The win went to Lluke short, who allowed one earned run in five innings of work. He also allowed the visitors’ other, unearned, run. James Colyer, Zach St. Pierre, Conner Richardson, and Caleb Franzen combined to hold the Chukars scoreless over the remaining four innings. All but St. Pierre, who gave up two hits and a walk to the three batters he faced, were effective.

The home team pulled even on Saturday evening in a contest that, to judge by the final score of 8-3, looked like an easy romp but really was a tightly fought duel, in which the B’s trailed, 2-0, after 4-1/2 innings before taking a 3-2 lead that stood until their four run breakout in the seventh. Gabe Tanner got the win for his 5-1/3 frames of two run, ten hit pitching .Connor Sullivan put the visitors down in order to earn the save. The player who really saved the game was Michael O’Hara with his incredible grab of Eddy Pelic’s with a runner on third and no outs that sent him crashing into the outfield fence to end the eighth and preserve the one run lead the B’s were enjoying at the time.

Earlier that evening, in the top of the fifth Esai Santos had made the best throw from the outfield to home that I ever have seen, and I’ve been watching baseball seriously since 1950. Tom McCaffre was on second with two down. Spencer Rich smacked a single to right.

McCaffrey advanced to third and headed for home. Santos’s throw arrived in Lozano’s mitt at the exact moment that McCaffrey reached the plate. but he couldn’t get past Lozano; the B’s receiver didn’t even need to twitch as he applied the tag. I was sitting in the third row, right behind the plate and had a clear view of the play, and I was flabbergasted.

It all came down to game five. Shane Spencer started for Idaho Falls. While sitting in the Adirondack chairs in front of the entrance to the grandstand, waiting for the gates to open, his grandparents and I had a stilted but not unfriendly chat. (I told you that baseball at Raimondi is a family affair). Whenthe gates opened, we said our somewhat strained farewells, and I added, “I hope he pitches a good game and his relievers let him down.” After a rough start he did, and, after 6-1/3 innings, they did. I was glad of the Ballers’ win, and I bear no ill will towards Spencer’s grandparents, but I did derive a sneaky satisfaction from the irony of their post game flight bringing them home to . . . Las Vegas.

Spencer’s difficulties began in the first episode, when he had trouble with his command and also couldn’t keep the Ballers’ baserunners from stealing at will.Although the Chugars’ righty logged back to back Ks against the hard hitting Christian Almanza and Cam Bufford, Jack Allgeyer gave Miles Men a three run lead with home run over the right field fence that plated Cobb, who had led off with a single to right, and Santos, who had walked, before him. Walks to Lozano and Harris in the second set the stage for Cobb’s RBI single to left that put Oakland up, 3-0..

After that, Spencer was lights out. He gave up an infield single to Harris in the third, and that was the last time a Baller reached base on him until Harris again singled, this time to center, to lead off the bottom of the eighth. Spencer retired Cobb on a fly to center and then exited the game, still responsible for the runner on first. The big hit was Bufford’s three run blast to dead center field, his second three run four bagger in two days.

The Ballers showed off some glittering defense. Allgeyer made a sliding pick of Johnny Pappas’ second inning, bases loaded slow grounder. jumped to his feet, and threw the Chukar catcher out at first to end the inning.

Noah Millikan, the ace of the Ballers’ rotation, got the start but had to exit after only two innings of shutout baseball with shoulder stiffness after two innings of shutout baseball. He surrendered two hits and three walks. Adam Bogosian relieved him and earned the win with 3-1/3 innings of stellar mound labor. Dylan Delvecchio and James Collyer held opposing batters hitless, but Oakland’s closer, Connor Sullivan, coughed up a leadoff homer to Trevor Rogers in the ninth. But it was too little, too late for the Chugars, and the newest Oakland team has won all the marbles.

For at least the second time this season, 860 AM, The Answer chose not to broadcast the game. It aired on a weak station in Palo Alto that was nearly inaudible inside the ballpark.

It would be fun to hear cries of “Break up the Ballers,”and we might very well hear them, but the labyrinthian eligibility rules for the Pioneer Baseball League will do that in a few years without any fishy fire sale. The PBL promotess repeated perpetual renewal

So, what can we expect from the 2026 Oakland Ballers? If the past is any guide to the future, we can expect a whole lot more of the unexpected.

San Francisco Giants September Call-Up Top 10 part II

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Former San Francisco Giant outfielder Gary Matthews broke in with the Giants as a September 1972 call up (1976 Hostess Baseball card photo)

San Francisco Giants September Call-Up Top 10 part 2

By Tony the Tiger Hayes

Since we ran Part One of this series the Giants promoted hot shot No. One Prospect Bryce Eldridge to the Major League roster and while he’s collected just one hit – a booming three-run double, Eldridge promises to be a fantastic Giant going forward – chances are however unless he starts bashing balls this weekend into the Bay he won’t catch up to these Legends of September.

(5 & 4)

Rich Aurilia, IF & Marvin Benard, OF – 1995

Two years removed from the Giants’ electric, but ultimately bittersweet, 103-win 1993 season and two years prior to the Orange & Black’s return to the national stage with a rousing 1997 NL Western Division championship season – 1995 was a mediocre campaign that could have easily been sponsored by lukewarm milk.

But the ‘95 club wasn’t total dreck as 1996 would prove be with it’s conga line of Four-A players.

While the ‘95 Giants didn’t exactly light up the universe – finishing last in the NL West – they did have an entertaining watchability factor most cellar dwellers lack.

Barry Bonds had a robust campaign – .294, 33, 104, 31 stolen bases. Powerful outfielder Glenallen Hill, with his 24 long balls was a nice pickup. And journeyman RHP Mark Leiter had a career season, posting 10 victories and being voted the Willie Mac Award winner for most inspirational Giant.

Additionally, the mid-summer doldrums were spiced up when shockingly, San Francisco swung a mega eight player trade with the Cincinnati Reds that brought freshly minted 49ers Super Bowl XXIX champion Deion Sanders to the Orange & Black.

Though the Giants were far out of contention by September, the final month of the ‘95 season brought a sneak peak into the Giants future with the call-up of a trio of first time big leaguers.

Twenty-two year old LHP Shawn Estes arrived and started the first three games of career in a low pressure setting.

The club also used September of ‘95 to introduce a pair of position players: 24-year-old outfielder Marvin Benard and 24-year-old shortstop Rich Aurilia.

Aurilia was from Brooklyn, New York and Benard from Nicaragua, via, Los Angeles and both tore the cover off the ball that month in what would be the start of long careers as rags to riches Giants stalwarts

A 50th round draft pick out of Lewis & Clark College in 1992, Benard had to overcome great odds – leap-frogging numerous higher draft picks just to get in position to receive a September call-up.

And once he received it, he pounced on the opportunity like a lion devouring an antelope.

After batting .305 for Triple-A Phoenix in ‘95, Benard got the call to report to Candlestick Park.

In his third at-bat, Benard ripped a third inning pinch-hit single off the Cardinals RHP Mark Petkovsek in a 13-4 loss at St. Louis (9/11/95).

Manager Dusty Baker gave Benard a shot to start the final week of the season and the rookie opened eyes in both the Giants front office and opposing dugouts.

In six consecutive starts leading off and playing center field, Benard batted 11-for-27, with a home run and three RBI.

Benard’s two-run long ball off Mike Munoz capped a five-run 9th inning, as the Giants roared to a 10-7 comeback win at Colorado (9/29/95).

Benard finished the month and season batting a very satisfying .384 in 13 games.

Benard parlayed that opportunity to become the Orange & Black’s surprise starting center fielder in 1996 and a roster mainstay for the next six seasons.

Unlike the home grown Benard, Aurilia became a Giant via a trade with Texas in exchange for former Orange & Black 20-game winner RHP John Burkett. But his career arc was similar to Benard’s.

A 24th round draft selection of the Rangers in the same draft class as Benard in 1992, Aurilia found a home quickly in the San Francisco organization, batting over .300 at Triple-A Phoenix in 1995 prior to his September call—up.

Like fellow rookie Benard, Aurilia was given the opportunity to start the final series of the campaign at Colorado and he too bashed Rockies pitching, hammering nine hits in 15 at-bats.

In his first MLB start, Richie went 4-for-5, singling off RHP Bryan Rekar for his first big league hit. He later doubled and socked his first major league home run off LHP Lance Painter in a 12-4 Giants blowout (9/28/95).

Aurillia finished his first month in the majors batting .474 (9-for-19) to start what would be an outstanding Giants career consisting of a dozen seasons repping the Bay City nine.

In 2001, Aurilia led the NL in hits with 206, batting .324, with 37 home runs and 97 RBI.

(3)

Madison Bumgarner – LHP -2009

Before he became a post-season Super Hero and all-time Orange & Black badass – Bumgarner was a top notch Giants September call-up in 2009.

Just 20-years old when MadBum was summoned to join the San Francisco pitching staff for the final weeks of the campaign, the rookie made four appearances, including one start and kept opposing batters swinging and missing, whittling a 1.80 ERA over 10 innings.

In his MLB debut, a start vs. San Diego (9/8/09), the tall southpaw pitched 5.1 innings, allowing five hits and two earned runs, getting a no decision in a 4-3 home loss. Bumgarner did not allow an earned run in three relief appearances the rest of the campaign.

The angular hurler would not make another relief appearance until… Game 7 of the 2014 World Series when MadBum solidified his reputation as baseball’s ultimate warrior, coming out of the bullpen to grind out 5 innings of whitewash relief to close out the Giants third World Championship in five seasons.

(2)

John Montefusco-

RHP – 1974

Even if Montefusco never managed to get an another big leaguer out after his remarkable MLB debut in September of 1974, the brazen Giant would probably still have a spot on this Top 10 lineup.

But not only did the “Count” have a primo game to launch his Giants career – almost single-handedly throttling the dreaded Dodgers on the road – he went on to pitch extremely well the rest of the season.

Overall, Montefusco closed out his first month in the majors with a 3-2, 4.81 record in seven games (five starts).

In his major debut (9/3/74), Montefusco took over in relief in the bottom of the first with the Dodgers leading 3-2 after Giants veteran starter Ron Bryant failed to record an out.

Montefusco would go on pitch the rest of the way, allowing just one run over 9 innings of work AND blasting a two-run home run in his first official at-bat off RHP Charlie Hough as the Orange & Black roared back to win 9-5.

With his first big league win under his belt, the New Jersey native would go on to record two more wins the rest of the month, including a 6-0 shutout win over the star-laden Cincinnati Reds at Candlestick Park (9/22/74).

The next two seasons Montefusco would become one of the best pitchers and box office draws in baseball, winning Rookie of the Year honors in 1975 (15-9, 2.88) and in 1976, winning a career best 16 games, making the All-Star team, leading the senior circuit in shutouts with six and and hurling a no-hitter.

He is a member of the Giants Wall of Fame.

(1)

Gary Matthews – OF

OF – 1972

Unlike most other players listed in this Top 10 review, Matthews is not a member of the Giants Wall of Fame. He only played with the club five seasons, and was not named to the All-Star team during the course of his San Francisco stint.

But in those campaigns Matthews was consistently one of the Giants elite players and no one made quite the first impression as this Southern California native did in September of 1972.

Over the course of 20 ball games, Matthews batted a sizzling.290, conked 4 home runs and drove in 14.

A left fielder by trade, a 17-year-old Matthews was tabbed by the Giants in the first round of the 1968 amateur draft out of San Fernando High School.

A quick study in the minors, the Giants brass let Matthews ripen into a .313 hitter at Triple-A Phoenix in ‘72 before calling him up to the show.

An excellent gap-to-gap batter with fence clearing power, dangerous speed and a dash of style – Gary proved he was more that ready to handle big league pitching that month and never again set foot on a minor league field.

Giants skipper Charlie Fox placed Matthews atop the Giants batting order in a game at San Diego (9/6/72) and turned him loose for the month.

In his second big league at-bat Matthews lined a base hit into center field off the Padres Bill Greif as the Giants routed the Friers 6-0 behind a complete game shutout by Ron Bryant.

Matthews stayed in the batting order the rest of the campaign and produced.

In the matinee of a doubleheader at Atlanta the Giants showcased their powerful bats from new and old Bay City Bashers going deep times.

Golden Oldie Willie McCovey hit a pair of mammoth taters that Saturday night and young pup Matthews also lifted off twice at the Launching Pad, swatting a two-run poke off Ron Reed and a solo blast vs. Larry Jaster in an 8-5 win. (9/16/72).

The Giants penciled Matthews in as the starting left fielder in 1973 and Matthews responded with a stellar full season entree batting .300, 12, 58 to win NL Rookie of the Year honors in flashy fashion.

Matthews continued to play excellent ball for San Francisco trough 1976, but the club was often in financial disarray during that era and nearly moved to Toronto.

When he became eligible for free agency Matthews signed with Atlanta. He was later a key contributor to the Phillies 1983 NL Championship cub and the Cubs 1984 playoff club.

Giants lose another Verlander start and fall to Cardinals 6-5

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San Francisco Giants Heliot Ramos (17) hits a two run single off of St Louis Cardinals starter Michael McGreevy (36) in the bottom of the fourth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Mon Sep 22, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Lincoln Juarez 

SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Giants couldn’t help starter Justin Verlander with the gloves or the bats as they lost another game he started in game one against the St. Louis Cardinals at Oracle Park. The Cardinals offensive boom in the fifth inning surged them past the Giants in a 6-5 win. The loss drops the Giants to 3.5 games back in the NL Wild Card race.

Monday night the Giants hosted the Cardinals in the first game of a six-game home stand to end the season at Oracle Park. Verlander was on the mound for his 28th start of the season. The veteran right-hander looked to take the momentum from his last four starts, where he’s posted a 0.36 ERA (1er, 25.0ip) with a .149 opponent average, 0.92 WHIP, and 23 strikeouts, into Monday. 

Verlander did not allow a run through his first two innings pitched and got some help in the first inning from Heliot Ramos on his 19th home run of the season. 1-0 Giants before the Cardinals offense came alive and scored in three straight innings. 

The Redbirds tied it in the third and set down any momentum the Giants offense had by throwing a zero in the bottom half. St. Louis struck again in the fourth to take the lead, but this time the Giants had an answer. 

Matt Chapman, Casey Schmitt, and Patrick Bailey all singled to manufacture a run and tie the game 2-2. Later with two outs, Heliot Ramos singled home two more runs to put the Giants ahead 4-2 with his second and third RBI of the night. 

In the top of the fifth, the Cardinal offense took off. A four-spot in the fifth inning made it a 6-4 ballgame in favor of the Cardinals. Verlander did not make it out of the inning and ended up with another no-decision through 4.1 IP. 

After the fifth, the Giants bullpen shut out the Cardinals the rest of the night and Devers hit his 33rd home run of the season to get the Giants within a run in the home fifth. 

The offense could not overcome the one-run deficit and the Cardinals held on behind a great bullpen effort and took game one of the series 6-5.

Tuesday night Logan Webb will get the start for San Francisco in what will be another must-win game scenario if they want to have any sort of shot at the postseason after this week. 

Starters: For the Cards RHP Andre Pallante (6-14, 5.23) vs. for the Giants RHP Logan Webb (14-11, 3.27), Tuesday night at Oracle Park. First pitch at 6:45pm. 

San Francisco Giants podcast Marko Ukalovic: Giants open final homestand for 2025 Monday night against Cardinals

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Trevor MacDonald pitches to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the bottom of the first inning at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles on Sun Sep 21, 2025 (AP News photo)

SF Giants podcast Marko Ukalovic:

#1 San Francisco Giants pinch hitter Patrick Bailey hit a RBI double in the top of the eighth inning that led to a three run inning Sunday.

#2 The Gians got to Dodgers reliever Blake Treinen who pitched two thirds of an inning allowing three hits, three earned runs, and two walks. The Giants with the win avoided being swept in the finale of a four game series on Sunday.

#3 Treinen (1-7) had been struggling and allowed the three runs to score in the top of the eighth, he had walked two and gave up three hits and the Giants took advantage in a game that almost got away from them.

#4 Willy Adames walked with the bases loaded that allowed the tie breaker to score and Matt Chapman grounded out to add another RBI as Treinen was relieved and booed by Dodger fans as he headed back to the dugout.

#5 The Giants return back to Oracle Park to open a six game homestand and the first three of those games will be against the St Louis Cardinals on Monday night. Starting for the St Louis Michael McGreevy (7-3 ERA 4.08) for San Francisco Justin Verlander (3-10 ERA 3.75) first pitch at 6:45 pm PT.

Marko Ukalovic did the Giants podcasts each Monday during the Giants 2025 regular season at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason: A’s back in Sac close out final homestand against Astros and Royals

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Sacramento A’s starter Jeffery Springs will make the start against the Houston Astros on Tue Sep 23, 2025 at Sutter Health Field in West Sacramento (AP file photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason:

#1 The Sacramento A’s on Sunday were trounced in the last leg of their road trip against the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-0 at PNC Park. The Pirates Jared Triolo and Joey Bart both hit a home run and got four hits in the slugfest.

#2 For Triolo it was his seventh homer of the season and it landed in the left center field bleachers off A’s pitcher Mitch Spence.

#3 To add insult upon injury the Pirates Joey Bart slugged a three run home run off A’s reliever Osvaldo Bido to make it 10-0 in the bottom of the fifth.

#4 For the A’s Spence went 3.1 innings allowing seven runs, nine hits and reliever Bido allowed three runs, four hits in 2.2 innings of work.

#5 The A’s return back to Sacramento and this will be their final homestand for the 2025 season. The A’s will be hosting the Houston Astros starting Tuesday night. Starting pitchers for the Astros RHP Cristian Javier (2-3 ERA 4.45) for the A’s LHP Jefferey Springs (10-11 ERA 4.17) first pitch 7:05pm PT

Barbara Mason did the A’s podcasts each Monday during the 2025 season at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in. 

Bay FC and Gotham FC battle to a 1-1 draw at Pay Pal Park

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Bay FC and Gotham FC battled to a 1-1 draw as both clubs battle for a playoff spot (photo from 8 In a Row)

By William Espy

Bay FC was back at PayPal Park on Sunday night, as they hosted Gotham FC to a 1-1 draw in San Jose. It was a match that could have major playoff implications for both teams.

Bay FC is running out of time to find a way into the postseason during Albertin Montoya’s final season on the sideline. Meanwhile, Gotham is in a major fight not only for playoff seeding, but a late-season slump could see them fall out of the top-eight altogether.

Gotham got out to a lead in the first half, as star midfielder Rose Lavelle was able to get the ball past Jordan Silkowitz with a shot from the center of the box. Gotham would maintain that lead until the 68th minute, when Rachael Kundananji, off of a pass from Alyssa Malonson, scored an equalizer from outside of the box.

Although Bay FC dominated possession throughout the match, as they like to do, their opponents did a great job limiting their chances. Gotham outshot Bay by a significant margin, as they led total shots 12-8, and shots on target 4-2.

The draw was Bay FC’s second straight result, however, it has reached the point of the season where single points won’t be enough if they’re pushing for the postseason.

There are only five games remaining, and Bay FC are currently nine points behind the eighth place North Carolina Courage. As a result, Bay FC needs to win moving forward, otherwise they’ll miss the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.

Next match Sat Sep 27: It’s the Utah Royals FC vs. Bay FC at Pay Pal Park with a 7:00pm PT kick off.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Mike Trout’s 400th Home Run is Magical

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A fan Alberto (left) at Coors Field caught Los Angeles Angels Mike Trout’s (right) 400th home run against the Colorado Rockies. The two played catch after the game on the field as one of Alberto’s wishes. Trout also handed Alberto three autograph bats. (photo from Instagram)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

When fans attend a major league baseball game, they often dream of catching a home run ball, but sometimes much more happens, and it does not always involve a money request between the fan and the player.. The fan who caught and returned Mike Trout’s 400th home run ball (485 foot blast) had one small request from the 3-time MVP. He wanted to play catch with him.

Alberto was the name of the fan at Coors Field on Saturday, who was attending the game with his wife and two children. According to Alberto, he told his young sons minutes before Trout’s home run, “he has a lot of power.” Alberto just happened to be in the right seat at the right time, and although this did not happen at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, within walking distance of Disneyland, where Dreams Come True, it happened at Coors Field in Denver, and this fan’s dream came true.

After the game, Alberto and Trout played catch in front of the third base dugout for a few minutes as his wife captured the whole thing on her phone. Trout’s prodigious shot helped the Angels beat the Rockies 3-0. Alberto brought his glove, but he did not need it to catch the ball; however, it came in handy when Trout said he would accept the offer of playing catch with him in return, Albert gave Mike Trout the ball, and Trout also gave Alberto three of his bats personally autographed.

I covered Mike Trout since the first time he arrived from the Angels’ Salt Lake City AAA affiliate in July 2011. This Saturday, his 400th homerun made him the 59th player in history to achieve that milestone. A first-ballot ‘sure thing ‘ for the Hall of Fame, Mike Trout is as good a player as I have seen in uniform. He is well-liked by fans, the media, and his teammates, both with the Angels and other teams.

Every player who played with him or against him has nothing but good stuff to say about Trout. José Mota (now with the Dodgers) and yours truly interviewed Mike Trout on many occasions, and he was always a class act.

A veteran baseball writer in Anaheim told me about Mike Trout, “he reminds me of Cal Ripken Jr”, for his professionalism and excellence all around.. The Angels’ last playoff appearance was in 2014, as they currently hold the longest active playoff drought in Major League Baseball, which is now 11 seasons long as of the end of the 2025 season. In his 15 years with the Los Angeles Angels in the major leagues, Mike Trout has only played in three (3) postseason games.

Mike Trout is not retiring after the current season; he is in the middle of a contract that runs through 2030 and has stated he plans to retire with the Los Angeles Angels. Despite ongoing injury issues, especially with his left knee, his financial commitment and team situation make it highly unlikely he would retire early.

I am sure we will hear from Trout on his plans. He is a great ‘old-fashioned ‘, very unassuming 34-year player, who comes day and night, to play a game he has always played since childhood in Vineland, New Jersey.

Mike Trout has only played in three postseason games so far. These luminaries never played in the Postseason: Ernie Banks, Ferguson Jenkins, Billy Williams, Luke Appling, and Ted Lyons of the Chicago White Sox, Harry Heilman of the Detroit Tigers, and Ken Griffey Jr. of the Seattle Mariners.

Quote Shoeless Joe Jackson: When Ted Williams famously concluded his .400 season, manager Connie Mack said, “I wish I had a Williams. I had one once, and I lost him”. This quote refers to the ineligible Shoeless Joe Jackson, whose ban from baseball prevented him from ever making it to Cooperstown. Here is the link to The Baseball Hall of Fame, at Cooperstown, New York, one of my favorite places on earth. https://baseballhall.org/planyourvisit

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com

Sharks open ’25/’26 Pre-season with a bang, 3-0, drowning the Golden Knights, Sunday Evening in the Tank.

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San Jose Sharks left wing Jeff Skinner (53) congratulates goaltender Alex Nedelijkovic (33) after the Sharks win over the Vegas Golden Knights in NHL pre season action at SAP Center in San Jose on Sun Sep 21, 2025 (San Jose Sharks X photo)

By Michael Roberson and Vince Cestone

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Sharks (1-0) began the 2025-26 NHL Pre-Season on a good note, with a 3-0 victory over recent rival Vegas Golden Knights (0-1), inside the SAP Center.

Despite not showcasing the high profile Macklin Celebrini, who was absent due to illness, the Silicon Valley fish still prevailed against their Sin City guests. Both teams were stingy on defense in the first period. Both goalies survived a power play, and multiple shots on goal.

San Jose had four legitimate shots at the net, to no avail, while Vegas more than doubled (9)the Sharks’ scoring opportunities, with same no net result, 0-0 after 20 minutes of action. The only real action in the initial period was a hooking penalty by Vegas’ forward Cole Schmidt, and San Jose’s forward Egor Afanasyev was punished or tripping.

The second period had some scoring action during its 20-minute stretch. The Sharks had 12 shots on goal, with two hitting the back of the net, while the Golden Knights reduced their attempts by four (5), with none lighting the lamp.

San Jose defenseman John Klingberg converted a power play “wrister” (7:18) early in the period, to break the ice in the scoreless battle. With less than a minute left in the second, forward Jeff Skinner tipped in a shot to putting the home team up 2-0 (19:14). That remained the score at the second intermission and 40 minutes of regulation play had elapsed.

The final period also seemed to be heading towards another scoreless 20 minutes; however, forward Tyler Toffoli had other plans for the third stanza. He maneuvered himself around the defenders and capitalized on the pulled goalie.

At the 19:17 mark of the game and period, Toffoli put the biscuit in the open basket, and put the Sharks up 3-0 over VGK. As the seconds ticked off, the Sharks accomplished an impressive shutout win inside the Tank.

“The real experienced teams jump on teams in the second period with the changes, the long change. So we really wanted to make that a focus…that translated to some goals.” Stated Sharks’ head coach Ryan Warsofsky

San Jose’s next preseason game will be a rematch versus the very same Vegas Golden Knights at the Tank, Friday, September 26 at 7 PM PT. Vegas will next be in action Tuesday, September 23, as they host the Los Angeles Kings in the Silver State.

San Francisco 49ers podcast David Zizmor: 49ers Pineiro kicks 35 yard FG for 16-15 win over Cardinals

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San Francisco 49ers kicker Eddy Pineiro (right) hits a first half field goal against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara on Sun Sep 21, 2025 (AP News photo)

San Francisco 49ers podcast David Zizmor:

#1 San Francisco 49ers kicker Eddy Pineiro hit a 35 yard field goal to get the 49ers a 16-15 win over the visiting Arizona Cardinals. The win is the 49ers third in a row.

#2 With 49ers key players Nick Bosa and starting quarterback Brock Purdy out with injuries. At 3:15 in the fourth quarter the Cardinals got a safety to take the lead 15-13. But later Pinerio got a shot to kick a game winning field goal at with time left on the clock.

#3 Next up for the 49ers they host the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1) next Sun Sep 28th at Levi Stadium. The Jags won their last game by a touchdown 17-10 in Jacksonville. Jags quarterback Trevor Lawrence threw for 20-40 and 222 yards and a touchdown against the Houston Texans (0-3). How do you see the Jaguars and 49ers matching next Sunday?

David Zizmor does the San Francisco 49ers podcasts after home and away games and on Wednesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com