San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Angels and Giants are top contenders for pitcher Blake Snell

Former San Diego Padres pitcher Blake Snell had been mentioned as favorites of the Los Angeles Angels or San Francisco Giants. Talks are heating up for Snell’s services. (AP file photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 Michael, two teams are top contenders for pitcher Blake Snell’s services the Los Angeles Angels and San Francisco Giants. Reports say Snell is open to a short term deal and may not be interested in the Angels who want to shore up their bullpen. That could make Snell a heavy favorite to join the Giants.

#2 You’ve had the chance to talk with Matt Chapman the Giants star third baseman during his Oakland A’s days. You saw what he brought to the game each day. How do you see him fitting in the line up each day and no doubt can provide some power with his bat and has a good defensive glove.

#3 Bob Melvin the Giants manager has been like a magnet getting some star players to sign with San Francisco how much did Melvin play a role in getting players like Jorge Soler, Jung hoo Lee, and Chapman to join the Giants?

#4 Giants outfielder/catcher Blake Sabol has changed uniform numbers twice giving up #2 for Soler, #26 for Chapman, and should be safe from another number switch wearing #61. Sabol whose been a great sport with the number changes says if there are some hits inside the #61 jersey he may stay with that number.

#5 Michael, do you see Melvin using Chapman at shortstop so JD Davis could get some reps at third base. Davis will be sitting a lot of games that Chapman will be starting unless he gets to DH?

Join Michael Duca for the San Francisco Giants podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Fitzgerald gets first MLB RBI in Giants’ 7-2 loss to Dodgers

Photo credit: Los Angeles Dodgers’ J.D. Martinez, second from right, heads to first for a solo home run as San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Kyle Harrison, left, watches along with catcher Blake Sabol, second from left, and home plate umpire Erich Bacchus during the fourth inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

By: Mary Anne

The San Francisco Giants began a four-game series with their biggest rival, the Los Angeles Dodgers, on Thursday night. The Giants lost a 7-2 heartbreaker to the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.

John Brebbia (3-1, 3.41 ERA) took the loss for the Giants. San Francisco fell to 76-77, while Los Angeles improved to 94-58.

The Giants’ starting lineup featured LaMonte Wade Jr., Wilmer Flores, Joc Pederson, Michael Conforto, Thairo Estrada, Mike Yastrzemski, Marco Luciano, Blake Sabol, Tyler Fitzgerald, and Kyle Harrison. Harrison pitched for 5 1/3 innings and gave up three hits, two earned runs, one walk, two strikeouts, and one home run.

After two scoreless innings, Los Angeles got on the board first. Enrique Hernandez was out on a sacrifice fly to Mike Yastrzemski. Chris Taylor scored for a 1-0 Dodgers lead in the bottom of the third inning with two outs.

The Dodgers doubled their lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. J.D. Martinez homered on a fly ball to right field for a 2-0 lead.

The Giants finally got on the board in the top of the fifth inning. Tyler Fitzgerald walked, and Mike Yastrzemski scored to cut the Dodgers’ lead to 2-1. Marco Luciano went to third base, while Blake Sabol went to second base.

The Giants tied the ballgame in the top of the sixth inning. Joc Pederson homered on a fly ball to center field to even the score 2-2.

The Dodgers regained their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. J.D. Martinez was out on a sacrifice fly to Mike Yastrzemski. Will Smith scored for a 3-2 lead with two outs.

Fast forward to the bottom of the seventh inning as the Dodgers extended their lead, thanks to a wild pitch by Luke Jackson. Chris Taylor scored first for a 4-2 lead. James Outman went to third base. Outman later scored to make it 5-2.

The Dodgers expanded their lead in the bottom of the eighth inning. J.D. Martinez singled on a sharp line drive to Tyler Fitzgerald. Freddie Freeman scored for a 6-2 lead. Chris Taylor singled on a ground ball to Michael Conforto. Max Muncy scored to make it 7-2. Miguel Rojas went to second base.

Notes
Tyler Fitzgerald made his MLB debut with the Giants on Thursday. Fitzgerald’s family cheered after he walked to record his first MLB RBI.

The Giants recalled Tristan Beck and Marco Luciano from Triple-A Sacramento while selecting Tyler Fitzgerald after optioning Sean Hjelle to yesterday’s Triple-A Sacramento postgame, placing Brandon Crawford on the ten-day injured list with a right hamstring strain, and placing Paul DeJong on unconditional release waivers.

Up Next
The Giants and Dodgers will meet again Friday night at 7:10 p.m. Pacific. The Giants will start Sean Manaea (6-6, 4.82 ERA). The Dodgers haven’t announced tomorrow’s starter yet.

Giants lose 10-4 to Phillies in series opener

Photo by Andy Kuno/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images

By: Mary Anne

The San Francisco Giants visited Citizens Bank Park to play a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Giants lost 10-4 to the Phillies in the series opener.

The Giants fell to 65-60, while the Phillies improved to 68-57. Giants pitcher Sean Manaea (4-4, 5.06 ERA) took the loss, while Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola (11-8, 4.49 ERA) got the win.

The Giants’ starting lineup featured LaMonte Wade Jr., Joc Pederson, Wilmer Flores, Michael Conforto, Patrick Bailey, Johan Camargo, Blake Sabol, Wade Meckler, Casey Schmitt, and Scott Alexander. Alexander pitched just 2/3 innings and gave up three hits, one earned run, and two strikeouts.

The Giants wasted no time getting on the board. Joc Pederson homered on a line drive to right field for a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

But the Phillies quickly responded. Bryce Harper singled on a line drive to Blake Sabol, and Trea Turner scored to tie the game 1-1 in the bottom of the first inning.

The Phillies took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the second inning. Edmundo Sosa homered on a fly ball to center field, and Bryson Stott scored to make it 3-1.

The Giants made it a one-run game in the top of the third inning. LaMonte Wade Jr. homered on a fly ball to center field to cut the Phillies’ lead to 3-2.

The Phillies regained the lead in the bottom of the third inning. Alec Bohm homered on a fly ball to center field to make it 4-2. An umpire reviewed Bohm’s home run, and the call on the field was upheld.

The Phillies added to their lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Bryce Harper hit an inside-the-park home run on a fly ball to left-center field to make it 5-2. Bryson Stott doubled on a line drive to Michael Conforto, and Alec Bohm scored for a 6-2 lead as J.T. Realmuto went to third base.

The Phillies took a double-digit lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. Johan Rojas tripled on a sharp line drive to Wade Meckler, and Alec Bohm and J.T. Realmuto scored to make it 8-2. Kyle Schwarber homered on a fly ball to right field, and Johan Rojas scored for a commanding 10-2 lead.

The Giants bounced back in the top of the ninth inning but were still down by six runs. Johan Camargo was hit by a pitch, and Wilmer Flores scored to reduce the Phillies’ lead to 10-3 as Heliot Ramos went to second base. Blake Sabol singled on a ground ball to Trea Turner that was deflected by Dylan Covey, and Luis Matos scored to cut the Phillies’ lead to 10-4 as Heliot Ramos went to third base and Johan Camargo went to second base.

Notes
The Giants recently called up No. 1 prospect Kyle Harrison, a left-handed pitcher.

Up Next
The Giants and Phillies will continue their series on Tuesday at 3:40 pm Pacific. Kyle Harrison will debut for the Giants, while Taijuan Walker (13-5, 4.03 ERA) will start for the Phillies.

Giants drop 6-5 decision to Braves

Photo credit: Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

By: Mary Anne

The San Francisco Giants and Atlanta Braves played their middle game on Saturday. Georgia was on San Francisco’s mind on Logan Webb Day or Webby Day. San Francisco (64-59) dropped a 6-5 decision to Atlanta (80-42) at Truist Field.

Giants pitcher Tyler Rogers (4-5, 2.73 ERA) took the loss after pitching two innings and giving up two hits, two earned runs, three strikeouts, and one home run.

The Giants’ starting lineup consisted of LaMonte Webb Jr., Wade Meckler, Wilmer Flores, Joc Pederson, Michael Conforto, J.D. Davis, Blake Sabol, Johan Camargo, Thairo Estrada, and of course, Logan Webb. Webb pitched six innings and gave up nine hits, four earned runs, five strikeouts, and one home run.

The Giants wasted no time getting on the board. LaMonte Wade Jr. homered on a fly ball to right field for a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

The Giants doubled their lead in the top of the second inning. Johan Camargo grounded into a forceout that went from Nicky Lopez to Orlando Arcia. J.D. Davis scored for a 2-0 lead. Blake Sabol went to second base, while Camargo went to first base with one out.

The Braves tied the game in the bottom of the second inning. Eddie Rosario doubled on a line drive to Joc Pederson. Matt Olson scored to cut the Giants’ lead in half to 2-1. Marcell Ozuna went to third base. Orlando Arcia grounded out and went from Johan Camargo to LaMonte Wade Jr. Ozuna scored to tie the game 2-2 with two outs.

The Giants took a two-run lead in the top of the fourth inning. J.D. Davis was out on a sacrifice fly to Ronald Acuna Jr. Joc Pederson scored for a 3-2 lead with one out. Thairo Estrada singled on a line drive to Eddie Rosario. Michael Conforto scored for a 4-2 lead. Johan Camargo went to second base.

The Braves made it a one-run game in the bottom of the fourth inning. Travis d’Arnaud doubled on a sharp line drive to Michael Conforto. Eddie Rosario scored to cut the Giants’ lead to 4-3.

The Braves tied the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. Ronald Acuna Jr. homered on a fly ball to right field to tie the game 4-4.

The Giants challenged a force play in the top of the sixth inning and the call on the field was upheld. Johan Camargo grounded into a double play that went from Nicky Lopez to Orlando Arcia to Matt Olson. Michael Conforto scored for a 5-4 lead. J.D. Davis went to third base, as Blake Sabol was out at second base and Camargo was out at first base with two outs.

The Braves responded in the bottom of the eighth inning. Eddie Rosario homered on a fly ball to center field. Luke Williams scored for a 6-5 lead.

Notes
The Giants placed Ross Stripling on the 15-day injured list — retroactive to August 17th — with a mid-back strain.

The Giants placed Ryan Walker on the paternity list.

The Giants recalled Sean Hjelle and Casey Schmitt from Triple-A Sacramento.

Up Next
The Giants and Braves will wrap up their series on Sunday at 10:35 am Pacific. The Giants’ starting pitcher is TBD, while the Braves named Max Fried (4-1, 2.57 ERA) their starting pitcher.

MLB The Show podcast with Charlie O: SRS’s Amaury speaks out on A’s ownership; Orioles announcer Brown back after suspension; plus more

Oakland A’s broadcaster Amaury Pi Gonzalez said in a recent interview that if Oakland A’s owner John Fisher sold the team there would be a parade in Oakland the following week (photo provided by Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

On the MLB The Show Podcast with Charlie O:

#1 One of the biggest quotes coming out of the San Francisco Chronicle interview with Oakland A’s broadcaster Amaury Pi Gonzalez on Thursday saying, if A’s owner John Fisher sold the team there would be a parade in Oakland next week, also saying that Fisher was not professional for the way he relocated the A’s and that he didn’t want the A’s to leave Oakland he wants them to stay. The interview has gone viral in the baseball community on social media.

#2 Baltimore Orioles broadcaster Kevin Brown’s suspension ended on Saturday in time for him to broadcast the Orioles and Seattle Mariners game. Brown was suspended five games for negative comments regarding the Orioles loosing records in previous seasons. The Orioles are in first place this season. Brown also said that the Orioles have had a losing record against the Tampa Bay Rays. The fans during the suspension chanted “Free Kevin Brown” and owner John Angelos received lots and lot of emails regarding the Brown suspension that became a national story.

#3 San Francisco Giants pitcher Ross Stripling showed catcher Blake Sabol an article on his phone when they were in Anaheim to play the Angels last week showing that Sabol would be part of a package to get Angels two way player Shohei Ohtani. Stripling said to Sabol, ” Sabes, I love you but we would have to do this” Sabol said “Yeah I get it.” Ohtani would fetch up to $600-800 million after this season on the free agent market. The Dodgers and Angels are the front runners in the Ohtani sweepstakes.

#4 The Giants who nearly signed Carolos Correa for $350 million for 13 years as the Giants nearly introduced Correa to the media before finding out that he failed a physical. Then failing another physical with the Mets eventually signing $200 million with the Minnesota Twins. Correa in 109 games with the Twins has hit .230, 15 home runs, and has 54 RBIs. Has Correa underperformed the Twins expectations?

#5 The Los Angeles Dodgers long awaited ceremony for pitcher Fernando Valenzulea arrived on Friday night when the Dodgers retired his number. Fernando Fever arrived in the Southland in 1980 when Valenzuela arrived pitching for the Dodgers until 1990 and playing for Angels, Orioles, Padres, before retiring with the Cardinals in 1997. Fernando in case many of you don’t know is a class act, he acts like a regular guy and not this legendary figure, the honor the Dodgers gave him was well deserved.

Join Charlie O for the MLB The Show podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com