Tag: Baseball

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Blach has the stuff; four relievers and a shutout; Can SF keep it going?

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 The opening day performance by San Francisco Giants starter Ty Blach, who went five innings with three hits and three strikeouts. Blach put out a strong performance.

#2 A look at what pitches that were working for Blach.

#3 It took four relievers to come in to shut the door on the Los Angeles Dodgers. There were doubts about the Giants bullpen, but they really impressed on Opening Day.

#4 Dodgers starter Clayton Kernshaw pitched well enough to win, but he didn’t get any offensive support, throwing for one run, eight hits, walked two, struck out seven well enough to complete the game.

#5 Joe Panik, who got the game’s only run on a solo home run in the fifth, that turned out to be the difference maker.

Michael Duca does the Giants podcast Fridays and Morris Phillips on Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Blach outduels Kershaw; Giants take opener 1-0

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Harness

The Giants appeared to have the look of a team that was basically up on a tee for the Dodgers to smack around, particularly on Opening Day.

Someone apparently forgot to tell Ty Blach and the rest of the pitching staff, which combined to shut down the Dodgers Thursday afternoon at Dodger Stadium, 1-0.

Blach went five innings and gave up only three hits to a lineup that was only one game away from winning the World Series, while also striking out three and walking three. From that point, the Giants utilized four relievers, including fill-in closer Hunter Strickland, to keep Los Angeles off the scoreboard for four more innings.

“He’s got a great makeup about him,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “We were very confident that he was going to give us a chance to win, which he did. That’s why we picked him to go on Opening Day.”

In the process, Blach got the best of Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, who gave up a run on eight hits, walking two and striking out seven.

Second baseman Joe Panik fired the shot that separated the two teams and provided the difference. In the fifth inning, he got an inside fastball from Kershaw and sent it into the seats beyond the short fence in right field for a solo homer.

“That’s what this game is about, it about competing,” Blach said. “I love the opportunity to go up against one of the best in the league. It’s a great opportunity, and I loved every minute of it.”

A’s win opener in a 6-5 walk-off win over Angels

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — What a glorious day to play a ballgame! The weather at the Coliseum was fantastic, and the A’s and Angels were getting ready to play the first game of the season. The fans filed in, and the festivities were underway to kick off the 2018 season. A’s Hall of Fame pitcher Rollie Fingers threw out the first pitch to conclude the Opening Day ceremonies and the time has come to Play Ball.

Kendall Graveman started for Oakland, and he was not at his best. He went five-plus innings and was tagged for five runs, all earned. In his five-plus innings of work, he threw 78 pitches and gave up seven hits, including three solo home runs, a triple and a double. A’s designated hitter Khris Davis put a charge in the A’s offense when he homered with two men on. First baseman Matt Olson, the next batter after Davis, blasted his first of the year to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth. The A’s tied the game in the seventh and won it 6-5 in a walk-off in the 11th. It was a thriller.

Graveman was the starting pitcher for the A’s, and he was opposed by the Angels’ Garrett Richards. It was the second year in a row that two pitchers faced each other on Opening Day. Graveman set the Angels down in order in the first inning, but ran into trouble in the second.

The Angels drew first blood as the scored two runs on four hits. Kole Calhoun got things going for the Angels when he tripled to deep right centerfield. Shortstop Andrelton Simmons singled sharply to centerfield to drive in Calhoun. Graveman retired Luis Valbuena when third baseman Matt Chapman made a sensational catch over the tarpaulin to record the out. The next batter, Japanese sensation Shohei Ohtani making his Major League debut, singled to right to send Simmons to third. Angels’ catcher Martin Maldonado hit a ground rule double to drive in Simmons with the Angels second run. The A’s mounted a threat in their half of the second when they put men on at second and third with two out, but Matt Joyce struck out to end the threat. The Angels lead 2-0 after two innings of play.

The Angels upped the lead to 3-0 in the fourth inning when Kole Calhoun, who seems to own Graveman, homered to deep left centerfield. Graveman settled down and retired the next three Angel hitters. The A’s failed to score in the bottom of the inning. In the top of the fifth, the Angels added another run on the strength of Zach Cozart’s first dinger of the season. The A’s got on the board in their half of the fifth. With one out, Richards walked Matt Joyce and Marcus Semien. He struck out Jed Lowrie for the second out. The A’s DH Khris “Khrush” Davis homered just over the wall in left centerfield to make it 4-3. The next batter Matt Olson tied the game with a solo blast to right.

Graveman, facing Albert Pujols leading off the sixth, served up another gopher ball. Pujols sent the ball deep into the left-field seats for his first homer of the season and 615th of his career for the future Hall of Fame player. Graveman was done for the day and was replaced by Ryan Buchter who was making his Oakland A’s debut. The A’s tied the game in the bottom of the seventh.With one out, three consecutive singles by Semien, Lowrie, and Khris Davis produced the A’s fifth run

The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the 11th. With one out, Boog Powell tripled over the head of Justin Upton who was not playing deep. The Angels issued an intentional walk to Matt Joyce to set up an inning-ending double play. Angel manager Mike Scioscia brought Upton as a fifth infielder. The strategy failed as Marcus Semien singled to center to end the game and send the 27,764 fans home very happy. Final score: The A’s won 6-5.

Game Notes: Time of game was four hours and two minutes and 27,764 fans were at the game. The hitting stars for Oakland were Marcus Semien with hits, including the game-winning single, and Boog Powell with a double and a triple. His triple in the 11th inning set up the winning run. Khris Davis with singles and homered to drive in four runs. Matt Olson hit a moonshot Jed Lowrie contributed two hits to help the A’s win.

The Angels’ second baseman, Zach Cozart, in his first game as an Angel had three hits, including a home run and a double. Kole Calhoun recorded a home run, a triple, and a single to start the season. Future Hall of Fame player, Albert Pujols, had two hits including the 615th home run of his illustrious career. Catcher Martin Maldonado tormented the A’s pitching staff as he had three hits. Angels’ rookie Shohei Ohtani singled on the very first pitch in the Major League. The A’s shut him down the rest of the way. Two-time MVP Mike Trout went hitless in six at-bats.

Up Next: Game two of the four-game series will be played at 7:05 pm PST Friday night. Sean Manaea will pitch for Oakland, and Tyler Skaggs will start for the Angels.

 

 

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Will Cahill and Anderson eventually end up in the Oak A’s starting rotation; three pitchers out before season starts

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Photo credit: @athletics_fanly

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg:

#1 It’s the first opening day for the Oakland A’s to be played at home in the day time since 1994. Jerry takes a look at the significance of what the A’s hope will start a trend.

#2 The A’s have lost three starters before the season even started, losing Jharel Cotton and AJ Puk to torn ulnar collateral ligaments. Both Cotton and Puk are expected to be out of for the rest of the season. John Blackburn is out with forearm tightness.

#3 Kendall Graveman is the A’s starter. The A’s pitching coach Scott Emerson says keeping Graveman healthy is crucial to keep his arm from burning out. He will be limited in his side sessions.

#4 Can the A’s have a healthy starting rotation and can they get some effective starts?

#5 Talk about Brett Anderson and Trevor Cahill. Will they eventually make the rotation, considering how scarce pitching could get on the A’s staff?

Jerry does the A’s podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants’ season set to get underway in Los Angeles against the Dodgers

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Harness

After the Giants concluded the annual pre-season Bay Bridge series with the A’s, the Giants had a day off Wednesday and are now preparing to face the Dodgers in Los Angeles to kick off the 2018 season on Thursday.

However, one thing will be glaringly different about the way the Giants look on the field for Opening Day. Madison Bumgarner has consistently been the team’s Opening Day starter, but due to his suffering a broken metacarpal on his left hand, he will not be out there Thursday.

Instead, it will be fellow lefty Ty Blach to take the hill for the Giants opposite Dodgers star Clayton Kershaw.

Blach earned the Opening Day start almost by default, as Jeff Samardzija suffered a pectoral strain and will miss his first scheduled start of the year. However, he is reportedly expected to test out the strain on Wednesday, to gauge how much time he expects to miss.

If that’s not enough, the Giants have another injury concern on the mound, and it surrounds closer Mark Melancon. He last pitched March 23, and there is growing concern that he’s not fully back from the forearm surgery that he had in September.

The rosters need to be turned in by 8:30 a.m. Thursday, sand there is a strong possibility that Melancon will be placed on the disabled list along with Bumgarner and Samardzija.

The Dodgers, on the other hand, don’t have nearly as many injury issues, but they do have one. Third baseman Justin Turner was hit by a pitch by A’s righty Kendall Graveman about a week ago and suffered a broken wrist as a result, and he will miss significant time.

Johnny Cueto will start Friday night for the Giants, as he goes up against Dodgers lefty Alex Wood.

Baseball is back as the A’s open the 2018 season against the Angels

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Photo credit: @angels_fanly

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — On Thursday, March 29th, 2018, Major League Baseball returns after six long months of inactivity. The A’s last played at the Coliseum way back in September, and the fans have been drooling for the season to start, and that will happen Thursday afternoon at 1 pm.

Opening day is such a special day. The players are excited to get the season going, and the A’s are playing a day opener for the first time since 1994. The A’s management will have the bunting out to decorate the stadium, and the grass will never be so green as it is on opening day. There will be a presentation of the colors and then the singing of the National Anthem to be followed by a flyover by the Navy that the fans always love.

The A’s, under the leadership of President Dave Kaval, have made improvements to the stadium so that the baseball experience will be even better. The food trucks are back, and the A’s have made improvements to the food being served at the park.

The A’s have taken a section in left field and made it into an area to be known as the Treehouse. Fans can stay out there for the game and enjoy great food and beer while the game is going on.

The A’s have also created an area known as the Farm where fresh vegetables will be grown. The hates tarps will not be around this year, and if the team improves as many people think they can, the team will need the extra seating.

The A’s are committed to having ties with the past. On Wednesday, the A’s hosted a gala at their new office at 55 Harrison Street in Oakland. Many community leaders were present as were many of the great players that brought Oakland six Pennants and four World Championships. Rickey Henderson, perhaps the greatest Oakland Athletic of all-time, was there. Carney Lansford and Terry Steinbach were there. Reggie Jackson and Rollie Fingers were there, and all these former players will be in attendance Friday night for the night opener.

The A’s, under manager Bob Melvin, are looking to escape from the cellar of the American League West, where they have resided for the past three years. The A’s brought up some of the best prospects near the tail end of the season last year. The A’s traded Yonder Alonso to the Seattle Mariners to make room for Matt Olson at first base. Jed Lowrie had a terrific bounce-back year at second base, and his 49 doubles were second-best in the AL in that department. Marcus Semien missed about half the season, but he is healthy now and hopes to be a force in the lineup. Matt Chapman will be at third base, and he showed he belonged with great fielding. He also has a lot of power.

The outfield will consist of Matt Joyce and Chad Pinder platooning in left field. Joyce hit 25 homers after a slow start and Pinder also showed that he can hit with power and he can play several positions. Boog Powell will start in center but Dustin Fowler, who was sent down to Triple-A to get more playing time, will be back. Right field will be patrolled by Steve Piscotty who came to Oakland in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Khris Davis, who hit 43 dingers last year, will be the DH. The catching chores will be done by former All-Star Jonathan Lucroy. Lucroy could be the best bargain of the year. Bruce Maxwell will be the backup catcher.

The big problem for the A’s could be the starting rotation. The A’s are hoping for big things from Kendall Graveman and Sean Manaea. Graveman was hurt last year and recorded just six wins. Manaea led the team with 12 victories. These two pitchers could be the keys to the A’s success if they can be more consistent. Lucroy’s vast experience handling pitchers should be beneficial. Daniel Mengden, who was up and down last year, came on strong in September after he made an adjustment in his pitching motion and he seems to be on the right track. Filling out the rotation will be Andrew Triggs and Daniel Gossett. The A’s lost Jharel Cotton for the season as he underwent Tommy John surgery last week. Plack Blackburn, who pitched well before being hurt last year, has some arm problems, and the A’s first-round draft pick of 2016 A.J. Puk appears to be heading for Tommy Joh surgery, too. The A’s signed Trevor Cahill to a contract, and he is at Nashville getting to be called up when needed.

The A’s bullpen added Emilio Pagan from Seattle to go with Chris Hatcher, Liam Hendriks, Santiago Casilla, Yusmeiro Petit, and Blake Treinen. Danny Coulombe and Paul Buchter are the lefty relievers. Ryan Dull will start the season on the DL.

The A’s start the season against their division rival, the Los Angeles Angels. Everyone in the division will be gunning for the World Champion Houston Astros. The A’s, without question, are trying to emulate the Astros. Everybody is trying to do what the Astros did. It wasn’t that long ago that the Astros were known as the Lastros. They developed young talent and did it pay off. The Astros won their first World Championship in their 55th season of operation. That, too, could happen to Oakland, If that were to happen and if the A’s were to get the new stadium built, they would have no trouble putting people into the seats at the old ballpark.

It’s opening day where all the teams are in first place. It’s time for the fans to come out early and remember that boys in Green and Gold will be doing their best to get off to a good start. It’s opening day, and that means hot dogs and beer. It’s opening day and its a time for optimism. It’s opening day, and it’s time to say Play Ball!

Giants to start 2018 season with patchwork rotation

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Photo credit: @Starting9

By Jeremy Harness

SAN FRANCISCO – The Giants spent a great deal of time–and money–upgrading their lineup in the field. Meanwhile, the once-vaunted rotation has begun to fall apart.

The most glaring absence is that of Madison Bumgarner, who suffered a fracture in his left hand after getting hit by a line drive Friday and is expected to miss 6-8 weeks as a result.

Enter Derek Holland, who started Monday’s game for the Giants and had his longest and overall best outing of the spring but was marred by a pair of solo home runs in a 9-2 loss to the A’s at AT&T Park.

Holland gave up only two runs on four hits over five innings and cruised through the first two innings without much issue. However, he made a huge location mistake in the third, and Matt Chapman made him pay for it immediately. He left a fastball over the plate waist-high, and Chapman drove it into the left-field seats to tie the game at 1-1.

Two innings later, he made the same mistake to Mark Canha, and the result was just as damaging. Holland could only watch as the ball disappeared into the seats in center field as the Giants fell behind, 2-1.

All in all, it has been a productive spring for Holland, who was a non-roster invitee to spring training who has been penciled in as part of the Giants’ starting rotation when the season starts. The former Ranger, who spent last season with the White Sox, had a 4.20 ERA entering Monday but showed very good command of the strike zone, which is what the Giants are looking for.

To make room for Holland on the roster, the Giants released outfielder Jarrett Parker.

He will take the mound for the Giants for Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, assuming the spot originally saved for Jeff Samardjiza, who has a strained pectoral muscle and will be out for the next 10 days, thus missing his first scheduled start of the year.

As the Giants head into Opening Day, the rotation is expected to look like this: right-hander Johnny Cueto, lefty Ty Blach, Holland and righty Chris Stratton.

After trailing by a run after seven innings, the Giants rallied in their half of the eighth and tied the game when Gorkys Hernandez sprinted home on a wild pitch.

The game eventually went into extra innings, but Oakland dropped a seven-spot in the 10th to even up this annual Bay Bridge series.

Opinion: Is Netting Truly Necessary at MLB Games?

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By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — This season, all 30 MLB teams will have protective netting in their respective ballpark, which is a debatable subject among baseball fans. It doesn’t matter what team you root for, there are some who think it’s a good idea to prevent future injuries and there are also some who would disagree, thinking it’s nothing more but an overreaction.

Personally, I think that netting isn’t truly necessary at MLB games. Sure, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement: “Providing baseball fans with a variety of seating options when they come to the ballpark, including seats behind protective netting, is important…Major League Clubs are constantly evaluating the coverage and design of their ballpark netting and I am pleased that they are providing fans an increased inventory of protected seats.” But like any other subject, there are pros and cons that come along with it.

The pros are that netting is an easy fix, the statement “pay better attention” is unrealistic and the thought “once is enough” is, well enough. The cons mention that netting is just an “overreaction,” fans should know what they’re getting themselves into and the seeminly indefinite question: “When does it end?”

I have to add my two cents in a belief that should be so obvious that there shouldn’t be a need to say it. But there’s no actual need for netting that extend to at least the far ends of both dugouts because if someone is fortunate enough to be sitting in close seats near home plate, he or she should simply put the phone away and watch the ballgame. During a game, the phone should only be used to capture a photo, video or snap of a significant moment like a grand slam, a no-hitter and vice versa.

It’s not only some fans making arguments on the netting either. San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey has also made an argument without even trying. In June 2016, Posey was batting in the first inning in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but the bat flew out of his hands and ended up getting stuck way up in the netting at AT&T Park. Yeah, it was so high that the Giants’ facility crew had to use a ladder to get it back.

To refresh your memory, there have been some dangerous incidents like when a young girl who got injured by a 105 mph foul at Yankee Stadium in September 2017 and a woman who suffered life-threatening injuries after being hit by a broken bat at Fenway Park. It’s unfortunate that situations like these have occurred in the past, but most, if not all, of them could’ve been prevented if someone paid attention to the game because they’re supposed to be there to cheer on their favorite team.

Baseball may be too slow and tedious, but it’s still a sport that’s worth watching live at the ballpark. Play ball!

Cueto’s sharp in final start; Giants rout A’s 5-1

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Photo credit: @BerkeleyBrennan

By Jeremy Kahn

OAKLAND — It may be just an exhibition game, but whenever the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland A’s get together, it is always a good time.

Buster Posey hit a two-run double in the top of the third inning that scored Gregor Blanco and Nick Hundley, as the Giants took the first game of the Bay Bridge Series with a 5-1 victory over the A’s before a crowd of 21,229 at the Coliseum.

The Giants added another run in the inning, as Joe Panik scored on a sacrifice fly by Pablo Sandoval.

Jed Lowrie got the A’s on the board in the bottom of the inning, as he singled to centerfield to score Dustin Fowler.

Stephen Duggar robbed Matt Joyce of a potential home run, as the center fielder went over the wall to bring the ball back into play.

Johnny Cueto looked great in his final preseason start, as he went five and two-thirds innings, allowing one run on five hits, walking one and striking out six.

Sandoval put the game out of reach in the top of the eighth inning, as he launched a Raul Alcantara offering onto the stairs in right field for his fourth home run of the spring.

NOTES: With the victory, the Giants improved to 14-16-2 this spring season.

When the Giants open the season on Thursday at Dodger Stadium, this will be the 31st meeting between the two rivals on Opening Day since 1900 and the records between to the two teams is 15-15.

Madison Bumgarner suffered a displaced fracture of the fifth metacarpal on his left hand after getting hit by a Whit Merrifield line drive on Friday.

Jeff Samardzija was diagnosed with a strained pectoral muscle and will rest for 10 days before beginning to throw again.

UP NEXT: The Bay Bridge Series between the Giants and A’s will shift to AT&T Park Monday night at 7:15 pm PST.

River Cats hang on to defeat Giants 6-5

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By Jeremy Kahn

With the regular season starting in just five days, the San Francisco Giants have returned to Northern California after breaking camp in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Before their exhibition ending three-game series against the Oakland A’s beginning on Sunday at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, the Giants headed 90 miles north to Sacramento, the state capital of California, to face the Sacramento Rivercats.

Shaun Anderson started the game for the Giants, as he went 3.2 innings, allowing three runs (two earned), not walking a batter and striking out four. However, he did not fare in the decision.

Jerry Sands hit a two-run home run off of Cory Gearrin in the bottom of the sixth inning, as the Rivercats hung on to defeat the Giants 6-5 at Raley Field.

D.J. Snelten struck out the side in the top of the sixth inning to pick-up the victory for the Rivercats, who open the season on April 5 against the Tacoma Rainiers.

In his only inning of work, Gearrin gave up three runs (two earned) on three hits and walked two, before giving way to Jose Valdez.

Despite giving up two hits in the top of the ninth inning, Reyes Moronta struck out the side to pick-up the save for the Rivercats.

The Giants played their regulars Joe Panik, Brandon Belt, Andrew McCutchen, Evan Longoria, Brandon Crawford, Hunter Pence, Pablo Sandoval, Austin Jackson and Nick Hundley went a combined 7-for-23 against Rivercats pitching.

Kelby Tomilnson went 1-for-2, as did Jordan Arenado, the younger brother of Colorado Rockies star third baseman Nolan Arenado.

NOTES: Madison Bumgarner underwent surgery on his left pinkie, where pins were inserted into the hand. Bumgarner will miss six to eight weeks.

UP NEXT: The Giants and A’s begin their annual Bay Bridge Series on Sunday afternoon at the Coliseum, before heading across the Bay to finish the last two games at AT&T Park.