Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Ohtani just flat out had the A’s off balance Tuesday; A’s and Angels close out series in the Big A tonight

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The Los Angeles Angels Shohei Ohtani rubs up the baseball during the top of the eighth inning to face the Oakland A’s at the Big A in Anaheim on Thu Sep 29, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 Was the Los Angeles Angels Shohei Ohtani just on or were the A’s hitters just off on Thursday.

#2 Talk about how Ohtani’s pitches were just working against the A’s line up who by the way have been struggling.

#3 Ohtani picked up his 15th win of this season and has been lights out on both sides of the baseball with his pitching and hitting will he win the MVP again this season or will New York Yankees Aaron Judge who just tied Roger Maris for the AL all time home run leader get the MVP?

#4 After retiring 22 straight batters Ohtani in the eighth faced the A’s Conner Capel who broke up the no hitter with a hit that deflected off Angels shortstop Livan Soto’s glove and into leftfield in the top of the eighth.

#5 Tonight the A’s will head up to Seattle to take on the Mariners. Ken Waldichuk (1-2, 7.15) will take the mound for Oakland. Seattle will start Logan Gilbert (13-6, 3.29). First pitch will be at 6:40 PM PT.

Jeremiah did the A’s podcasts Thursdays for the 2022 season and will return next Thursday for the Sacramento Kings podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Warriors Kickoff Pre-Season In Tokyo Beating Wizards 96-87

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry (left) and the Washington Wizards Rui Hachimura (right) are presented before their game in Tokyo on Thu Sep 29, 2022 (@Warriors photo)

 

Warriors Kickoff Pre-Season In Tokyo Beating Wizards 96-87

By Barbara Mason

The NBA preseason got underway a world away last night in Japan. The World Champion Warriors took on the Washington Wizards in a two game series.

Friday night a sellout crowd in Tokyo got to see not only the defending champion Golden State Warriors but they also got to see Japan native Rui Hachimura who is a starter for the Wizards. He understandably got a huge round of applause from the crowd when introduce along with the Wizard starters.

It has been awhile. In fact, the last time a preseason series was played was back in 2019, that game a contest between the Houston Rockets and the Toronto Raptors.

Fans got to enjoy the play of not only the starters but the bench as well. None of the Warriors played more than 20 minutes in this game and going into the third quarter both teams were digging deep into their benches.

The Warrior’s James Wiseman, after missing all of last season, played 24 minutes and had the high score with 20 points, He hit on eight of 11 shots and had nine rebounds on his return. It could not have gone better for Wiseman after so much missed time. The high score for the Wizards was Hachimura with 13 points and nine rebounds. Wiseman and Hachimura were the only players to finish in double digits.

It’s early and it’s the preseason and so there were the expected early turnovers and erratic passes. Both teams shot under 33% in the first half and by game’s end they finished under 37%. Despite the less than stellar shooting, the crowd enjoyed a game that they will remember for a long long time. They got to see some of the world’s greatest players and they showed their appreciation with thunderous applause throughout the game.

Klay Thompson did not play in this game and Jordan Poole started in his place. The team continues to be cautious with Thompson since his return last January after suffering a torn ACL and a ruptured Achilles which sidelined him 2 1/2 season. He will not play in this series.

The second game of this series will be played on Saturday with tipoff at 10:00 PM on NBA TV.

Ford’s Drive: Rookie’s grand slam propels Giants to 6-4 win over the Rockies

Published on by moepeaLeave a comment

By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Improbably, the Giants avoided post-season elimination for the second night in a row.

While the Giants drubbed the Rockies for a team-record eighth, consecutive time, winning 6-4, the Phillies lost to the Cubs, and Brewers lost at home the Marlins.

Of the 18 clubs that will be parked in front of their TV screens when the playoffs commence on October 7, 15 have already ordered food from their preferred, delivery service. The Giants aren’t one of them, and that’s a good thing. Officially, they’re still battling.

“We’ve still got a chance, I guess,” Carlos Rodon said. “A lot of things have got to go our way, but all we can control is us winning.”

An upbeat, engaged Rodon maybe as valuable to the Giants as any late-season surge. In winning for the 14th time as a Giant, Rodon was flawless, allowing two hits and striking out 10 in six, scoreless innings of work. With each impressive outing, it becomes more and more apparent that the Giants will want to consummate a long-term deal with Rodon, and make him the most, prominent free agent signing in the Farhan Zaidi era, pending Aaron Judge’s decision, of course.

While the Rockies started six rookies on Thursday night, making Rodon’s path less Rockie, the Giants started one, Ford Proctor, who essentially won the game. Proctor’s second inning, grand slam off Ross Feltner increased the Giants lead to 5-0 and erased whatever doubt regarding the game’s outcome early. Proctor, who started his trip around the bases in a reserved manner was an absolute teenager with a huge smile on his face when he crossed the plate, in celebration of his first Major League home run.

“The fastest I’ve ever run around the bases, I know that,” Proctor said. “This past week has been a whirlwind. Just trying to take it all in and enjoy it.”

Kelly Tomlinson was the last Giant to have his first home also be a grand slam in 2015, and Brandon Crawford also achieved the feat in 2011, when his slam was also his first Major League hit.

Eight different Giants had at least one hit in the ballgame including pinch-hitter Austin Slater, who doubled and later scored in the seventh.

Very little went wrong for the Giants individually or collectively until the ninth inning when Jharell Cotton fell into trouble in his third inning of relief. Yonathon Daza and Alan Trejo singled to open the inning, giving Colorado runners at first and third. With one out, C.J. Cron’s sacrifice fly scored Daza with the Rockies’ first run.

That flurry forced Gabe Kapler into his bullpen and Sean Bouchard greeted John Brebbia with a two-run homer off Brebbia’s first pitch. Two batters later, Elehuris Montero tripled home Michael Toglia and the Giants’ lead was trimmed to 6-4.

Camilo Doval came on to face Ezequiel Tovar as the tying run and Doval retired Tovar to end the game.

The Giants welcome Arizona to Oracle Park for their final, three home games starting Friday night. Alex Cobb will face the Diamondbacks’ Merrill Kelly in the opener.

Angels Sweep Oakland Winning 4-2 A’s 100th loss of the season

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Los Angeles Angels pitcher Shohei Ohtani delivers to the Oakland A’s lineup at the Big A in Anheim in the first inning on Thu Sep 29, 2022 (AP News photo)

Angels Sweep Oakland Winning 4-2 A’s 100th loss of the season

By Barbara Mason

Thursday night the Oakland A’s (56-100) faced Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Angels (70-86) in game three of their series. The A’s were trying to avoid a sweep but with Ohtani on the mound for the Halo’s it would turn out to be a tall order.

Los Angeles got on the scoreboard early in this game. Luis Rengifo homered and Ohtani singled driving in Mike Trout for a 2-0 lead.

In the third inning, Taylor Ward homered extending the Angels lead 3-0. The Halo’s knocked a third home run out of the park in the sixth inning off the bat of Max Stassi now leading 4-0. Los Angeles had 12 hits through six innings and the A’s were still looking for their first hit in this game. They were not even close to figuring Ohtani out who already had eight strikeouts.

Ohtani was looking for his 15th win of the year which looked more and more likely as this game wore on. Going into the seventh inning his pitch count was at 72 and still no hits for Oakland.

In the eighth inning the A’s Connor Capel got the A’s their first hit of the game. Next up at the plate was Dermis Garcia who got a second hit for Oakland. The A’s had put an end to Ohtani’s bid for a no-hitter.

The A’s loaded the bases in the ninth inning and Nick Allen scored off a Seth Brown ground out to second. Jonah Bride scored on a wild pitch but it was too little too late. The final was 4-2 and unfortunately this was loss number 100 for the A’s. They were swept but avoided getting shutout. This was the second time in A’s history that they lost 100 games in a season.

It was a tough start for Oakland’s Cole Irvin. He went four innings and allowed nine hits, three runs with six strikeouts. Collin Wiles relieved him in the fifth inning. He got the job done allowing only one hit and no runs. Norge Ruiz relieved in the sixth and seventh innings allowing three hits and one run. Sam Selman would close for Oakland.

The A’s will finish the season against the Angels after their series with the Mariners. Those final three games will be played at the Coliseum. Will we see Shohei Ohtani in that series? We will have to wait on that one.

Friday night the A’s will head up to Seattle to take on the Mariners. Ken Waldichuk (1-2, 7.15) will take the mound for Oakland. Seattle will start Logan Gilbert (13-6, 3.29). First pitch will be at 6:40 PM PT.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Daniel Dullum: Giants couldn’t convert 107 win 2021 season to a playoff team this year

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Daniel Dullum takes a look San Francisco Giant catcher Joey Bart and other Giants as to their progress and their season. Here Bart slugs a two run home run at Wrigley Field in Chicago in the top of the second inning against the Chicago Cubs on Sat Sep 10, 2022 (AP News photo)

On SF Giants podcast with Daniel Dullum:

#1 Daniel, just to review a bit as the season winds down the Giants Joey Bart hit .217, 31 runs, 53 hits, and 11 home runs and 23 RBIs. He did get sent down during the season to fix his hitting and also got a concussion when he was hit by a foul tip. How did you see his performance this season?

#2 How much did Brandon Belt’s absence impact the Giants. Belt had knee surgery that forced him out for the rest of season. How much was he missed from the line up?

#3 Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford is really impressed by the job that Thairo Estrada did at second base.

#4 Crawford himself had a nice season on defense making barehanded plays on choppers, making a diving back hand play and throwing off his right knee to get the force play to mention a few of his fine defensive highlights.

#5 Daniel, taking a look at tonight’s starting pitchers for the Rockies righthander Ryan Feltner (3-8, 5.91) and starting for the Giants Carlos Rodon (13-8, 2.98) a 6:45pm PDT first pitch.

Join Daniel for the Giants podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Roger Maris Jr. Says Barry Bonds Home run record is Illegitimate

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Mother and child reunion: New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge celebrates home run number 61 with mother Patty at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Wed Sep 28, 2022 against the Toronto Blue Jays. Judge becomes tied for the American League single season lead with Yankee Roger Maris Sr (AP News photo)

Roger Maris Jr. Says Barry Bonds Home run record is Illegitimate

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

Roger Maris Jr. was in attendance in Toronto on Thursday, September 28, when Yankee slugger Aaron Judge hit home run No.61 to tie his father Roger Maris who established the Home run record in the American League hitting 61 in 1961. This is what Roger Maris Jr. told the Associated Press – “He should be revered for being the actual single-season home run champ,” Maris said after Judge hit his 61st on Wednesday night to match Roger Maris’ record-setting total with the Yankees in 1961. I mean, that's really who he is if he hits 62, and I think that's what needs to happen. I think baseball needs to look at the records and I think baseball should do something.'' Asked Wednesday whether he considers McGwire and Bonds home run totals to be illegitimate, Maris answered yes.I do,'' he said.I think most people do.” What Mr.Maris Jr said is much like what I wrote during my last article.

In 1999 St Louis Cardinals Mark McGwire hit 65 while Sammy Sosa had three seasons of over 60 home runs, from 1998 to 2001 hitting, 66, 64, 63. While McGwire admitted to using steroids, Sosa and Bond maintained they did not use it knowingly. It wasn’t until 2004 that Major League Baseball began testing for PED’s/drugs with penalties that same year.

The records and history are there for everybody to see, especially now in this age of high technology when all the information you can get in your cell phone within seconds. That was not the case in 1961, when nobody doubted if Roger Maris’s record was legitimate or not.

How much have times changed in baseball? Consider this, the biggest “controversy” in 1961 was when Roger Maris hit 61 home runs to break Babe Ruth’s 1927 record of 60. The argument was: While Ruth hit 60 home runs in the 1927 season that was 154 games long, Maris hit 61 but when the season was 162 games long.

Will Major League Baseball do something to “adjust” the situation, of who is the real holder of the one-season home run record? Probably not. I believe MLB is leaving this controversy to the record books, to history, to votes in the Hall of Fame and many asterisks to follow.

Aaron Judge needs one more home run to be the undisputed home run king for one season and he will have seven (7) more games left to do it. And then, there will be another discussion. I think.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s lead play by play Spanish announcer on flagship station on LeGrande 1010 KIQI San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Oakland tax payers worried about Howard Terminal costs; A’s look to try their luck against Angels Ohtani at the Big A tonight

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Artists rendition of proposed Howard Terminal ballpark in downtown Oakland. Oakland residents are concerned about taxes from the project. The Oakland City Council are also concerned about the infrastructure costs as well (Artists rendition from the San Francisco Chronicle)

On the A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 The Howard Terminal project still up in the air the A’s brass has been to Las Vegas twice visiting prospective sites.

#2 The main concern is the Oakland taxpayer has regarding the cost of paying for the Howard Terminal Project which is estimated at $12 billion.

#3 Jerry one of the other major concerns regarding Howard Terminal is the infrastructure concerns is public transit with Amtrak and Southern Pacific railroads around the ballpark and how public transit will get fans and employees to the ballpark.

#4 The A’s currently in Anaheim and will see the Angels for another three series at the Oakland Coliseum next week starting Monday night. That might be a positive thing in playing a team twice in a week.

#5 The A’s go at it again tonight against the Angels the A’s will start Cole Irvin (9-12, 4.11) and for the Angels Shohei Ohtani (14-8, 2.47) a 6:38 pm first pitch at the Big A.

Join Jerry for the A’s podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Not Mailing It In: Giants top the Rockies 6-3 to avoid post-season elimination

Published on by moepeaLeave a comment

By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–The streaking Giants aren’t just winning games, they’re also setting the table for 2023.

When the off-season’s as anticipated as the Giants, consider it a win-win.

Four different Giants, including rookie Ford Proctor, had run-scoring hits in a 6-3 win over the Rockies on Wednesday night. The Giants have won 8 of 9 and still have (slim) post-season possibilities with seven games remaining in the season.

The Giants trail the sixth-seeded Phillies by 6 1/2 games, and would have to leapfrog the Brewers as well in an almost impossible finish, but the door’s open as is the possibility they could finish .500 or better with their record at 77-78.

It’s been more than a month since the Giants have held a non-losing record with that being on August 23, after they beat the Tigers in Detroit to get to 61-61.

The Giants fashioned a bullpen game gem, starting with John Brebbia pitching a scoreless first inning for the ninth, straight time in his sometimes role as the opener. Sean Hjelle followed with four innings of two-hit ball after being recalled earlier in the day from Triple-A Sacramento as the corresponding move to Jarlin Garcia being placed on the paternity list.

That performance earned Hjelle his first Major League win and a sticky, concoction celebration from his teammates.

“I think there was one beer mixed in there, too,” Hjelle said of what substances where poured on his head in the clubhouse. “It was great. I’m gonna feel gross for a couple of days.”

The 31-year old Shelby Miller was the other Giant to throw multiple innings, pitching the sixth and seventh. He was sharp, starting all six batters he faced with a strike and fanning five.

“He’s getting opposing hitters comfortable looking for a slider and then delivering a really quality strike with his fastball,” manager Gabe Kapler said of Miller.

Tyler Rogers and Yunior Marte also pitched an inning as the Giants held the Rockies to just four hits. The evening served as another hint that the answers to the team’s bullpen woes could be already in the clubhouse. In the last three weeks, Scott Alexander, Alex Young and Miller have been impressive while Brebbia and Camilo Doval have continued their outstanding seasons.

The Giants scored three runs in the first off Colorado’s Jose Urena, who gave up four hits, four walks and took the loss. The Rockies narrowed the deficit to 3-2 on Alan Trejo’s solo shot in the fifth. But the Giants responded, scoring three times in the sixth. Proctor’s first big league RBI came on a sacrifice fly scoring David Villar. Joc Pederson’s two-run triple later in the inning finished the scoring for the Giants.

Sharks (Preseason): Perfect Still with 3-1 Win over Kings

Published on by Matthew HarringtonLeave a comment

The San Jose Sharks who have taken two pre season games from the Los Angeles Kings did it again this time at the Toyota Arena in Ontario the Kings AHL affiliate arena of the Ontario Reign on Wed Sep 28, 2022 (@SanJoseSharks photo)

By Matthew Harrington

The San Jose Sharks perfect preseason rolled on the road Wednesday night with the Sharks topping the Los Angeles Kings 3-1 at Toyota Arena.

Thomas Bordeleau, Evgeny Svechnikov and Scott Harrington scored for San Jose, with the Sharks striking twice on the power play in five chances and once shorthanded. Carl Grundstrom netted the Kings lone goal on 27 shots.

Bordeleau opened the scoring 5:54 into the first period on the man advantage on assist from Kevin Labanc and Timo Meier. The second-year pro out of Michigan is fighting for a spot with the big club and could help new Sharks coach David Quinn improve on a bottom eleven power play from last season.

Svechnikov, a player expected to help at both the NHL and AHL levels this year, also scored on the power play to make the lead 2-0 with 7:12 left in the second period. Radim Simek had the primary helper as he looks to impress the new coaching staff after being a healthy scratch for stretches under the previous regime. Scott Reedy also assisted on the goal.

Grundstrom scored 2:27 into the final period, but Scott Harrington scored shorthanded goal with 1:27 left in regulation to ice the game. Harrington is in camp on a professional tryout and is more known for his defensive prowess than his offensive gifts, but converting and then some on a penalty kill goes a long way to getting on a coach’s good graces.

Next up for San Jose is split squad action Friday night. Team Teal will be in action on the road facing both the Vegas Golden Knights and Anaheim Ducks as they tune up for the last few times before departing for Europe and the start of the new season.

A’s Drop Game Two To Angels 4-1; Halos rally for 3 runs in fourth inning

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The Oakland A’s Conner Capel swings for a first inning single to score Tony Kemp at Anaheim Stadium against the Los Angeles Angeles on Wed Sep 28, 2022 (AP News photo)

A’s Drop Game Two To Angels 4-1

By Barbara Mason

After losing a close game to the Los Angeles Angels (69-86) Tuesday night, the Oakland A’s (56-99) were looking to even the series Wednesday night. The A’s were tied with the Angels into the eighth inning Tuesday night but Los Angeles scored a single run in the eighth and that was the ball game 4-3.

Oakland scored in tonights game in the first inning taking a 1-0 lead. Connor Capel singled driving in Tony Kemp for the early lead.

The Angels started hitting in the fourth inning. After a quiet Tuesday night, Mike Trout, who is always a threat, hit a homer to center to tie up the game 1-1. Matt Thaiss would follow with a single and Shohei Otani scored to give Los Angeles the lead 2-1. They would extend that lead when Matt Duffy grounded into a fielder’s choice to shortstop and Taylor Ward scored.

Taylor Ward would strike again in the eighth inning knocking one out of Angel Stadium giving Los Angeles a 4-1 lead. That would be the final. Oakland’s starting pitcher Adrian Martinez only lasted 4.2 innings allowing five hits and three runs. He had four strikeouts.

The A’s relief pitching only allowed two hits through the remainder of the game sending in five pitchers, Sam Selman, Norge Ruiz, Kirby Snead, Austin Pruitt and Domingo Acevedo.

The Angels starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen went five innings and allowed three hits and one run with eight strikeouts.

In Game Three of this series we will get to see Shohei Ohtani on the mound for Los Angeles currently with a 2.47 ERA and a 14-8 win /loss record. This could possibly be Ohtani’s last start this season. Cole Irvin will start for the A’s. He has a 4.05 ERA and a 9-12 win/lloss record. First pitch is scheduled for 6:38 PM PT.