Tag: Blake Snell

Giants Lose 17-1 To The Diamondbacks, Blaze Alexander Sets The Tone For Arizona with Grand Slam

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San Francisco Giants starter Blake Snell inflated his ERA to 12.86 after surrendering nine hits on five runs against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Fri Apr 19, 2024 (San Francisco Giants X photo)

Friday, April 29th, 2024

By Troy Ewers

SAN FRANCISCO–Winners of two straight for just the second time this season, the San Francisco Giants (9-12) will look to make it three in a row in the second game of this four-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks (10-11).

Giants starter Blake Snell makes his third start with SF tonight (second here at Oracle Park). Snell has allowed 10 runs on nine hits (12.86 ERA) over his previous two outings while striking out nine. On the other side, Jordan Montgomery will make his D-Backs debut after he was signed to a 1-year contract on March 29th. The Giants got blitzed by Diamondback hitting late in the game getting squashed 17-1 coming away on Friday night at Oracle Park.

Snell had a good first two innings, but Arizona began to pick at him in the third. Blaze Alexander hit what appeared to be a home run, but after review it hit part of the wall and was ruled a ground rule double. Ketel Marte would then hit an RBI single and score Alexander, 1-0 Arizona. 

In the fourth inning Alexander got another double and scored Eugenio Suarez who got on from a walk, 2-0 Arizona. For the Giants, Jorge Soler brought the score within one run with a leadoff solo homer, 2-1 when we ended the 4th. First home run for the Giants at home this season. 

The Diamondbacks piled on Snell in the 5th inning as Christian Walker hit an RBI single and Randal Grichuk hit an RBI double which scored 3 runs total in the inning and that was it for Blake Snell. He ended his night wih 9 hits and 5 runs on him and his slump continues.

Landen Roupp was on the mound after Snell and in the 7th the D-Backs didn’t stop the offensive assault. Bases loaded, Gabriel Moreno got a double that earned 2 insurance runs, 7-1 Arizona, but after Alexander got on base with a walk, Kevin Newman hit a single and scored 2 more runs, 9-1 Diamondbacks. 

Jordan Mongomery left in the seventh, but stood on business in his D-Backs debut. Only four hits and one run during his outing, the one run being Soler’s homer. 

In the eighth inning if the game wasn’t over already, it was official this inning. Six runs scored for the Diamondbacks. Four of those runs came from Blaze Alexander, his third hit of the night was a grand slam, his first grand slam of his career. 15-1 D-Backs. 

The Giants brought in Tyler Fitzgerald to pitch and two more runs scored for Arizona, 17-1. The Giants had one last chance to pull off an amazing comeback and nothing came from it. 

Jordan Montgomery gets the win and Blake Snell gets the loss, his third. 

Next game in the series will be a day game April 20th with Kyle Harrison (2-1, 4.70) for the Giants and Zac Gallen (3-0, 1.64) for the Diamondbacks on the mound first ptich at 1:05pm PDT.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: How much did Melvin and Zaidi have influence getting Snell; PA Renel was outspoken for civil rights was that the reason why she didn’t get renewed?

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Newest San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell smiles for the cameras with agent Scott Boras in Scottsdale AZ after being presented to the media on Wed Mar 20, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 Michael with the acquisition of pitcher Blake Snell to the San Francisco Giants this week it was the push of Giants president Farhan Zaidi and manager Bob Melvin who influenced Snell to come to San Francisco and Snell’s agent Scott Boras felt this was the right fit for Snell.

#2 Renel Brooks-Moon’s departure as the Giants PA announcer has been headlines in the sports world this past week. She couldn’t work out a deal with the Giants brass and thus is no longer working the PA and is now relegated to a Community Volunteer position. Renel said in her last contract negotiation back in 2020 she had to right her way to get a four year extension. Renel’s departure struck many as a shock. Michael was there anyway for a path for Renel and the Giants to reach a happy medium?

#3 Renel had said that the organization didn’t feel disrespected by the organization for her outspokeness. Renel also said she spoke out for others and she fought for those who came after her. She said the Giants did give her freedom to speak out.

#4 Charles Johnson who is the Giants team Chairman and the has the largest holding share of the team. Johnson donated $2,800 the maximum to Rep Lauren Bobert who pushed for President Trump’s voter fraud claims and Renel said “I’m not turning a blind eye to this believe me.”

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

Giants bolster rotation add Blake Snell on 2-year deal for $62 million

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Former San Diego Padre Blake Snell who had been a free agent for most of the off season and pre season agreed to a two year deal with the San Francisco Giants on Mon Mar 18, 2024 (AP file photo)

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants have strengthened their rotation, as they have agreed to sign left-handed ace, and 2023 National League Cy Young Award Winner Blake Snell to a two-year, $62 million contract, according to MLB Network Insider Jon Heyman.

The deal caps off a strong off-season for the Giants, which started off with them adding Bob Melvin as manager, and continued with the signings of Jung-hoo Lee, Robbie Ray, Jordan Hicks and Tom Murphy. Jorge Soler and Matt Chapman were signed during Spring Training, and Snell could be set to join them in the final week of camp.

Blake Snell came up with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2016, and was their ace through the COVID-shortened 60-game sprint season of 2020. He won the American League Cy Young Award in 2018; struggled, but helped lead the Rays to the Postseason in 2019; and led them to the World Series in 2020.

Snell was infamously pulled by Rays Manager Kevin Cash in Game 6 of the 2020 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the bottom of the sixth inning, despite throwing a shutout. After Snell was pulled, the Dodgers scored two runs to take a 2-1 lead, and won the game 3-1 to win their first world championship since 1988.

Following Cash’s controversial move, Snell was traded to the San Diego Padres that off-season. Snell struggled in a 2021 campaign that saw the Padres collapse down the stretch. He then bounced back, and helped lead the Padres to the National League Championship Series in 2022. Snell then won his second cy young award in an otherwise disappointing 2023 season for the Padres.

Snell’s cy young season was believed to be a massive booster for him as he entered free agency. However, Snell, along with Chapman, Cody Bellinger and Jordan Montgomery, who were all represented by prominent agent Scott Boras, all remained on the market as teams reported to Spring Training in February. Snell, along with Chapman and Bellinger were signed after games got underway, and Montgomery remains a free agent.

Snell now joins Logan Webb, who finished second in cy young voting last season. Snell also joins what is set to be a strong rotation for the Giants. Along with Webb and Snell, young left-handed phenom, who saw time late in 2023, will be bumped from the second to the third start in the rotation.

The rotation could also be further fortified by the experiment of turning the flamethrower Jordan Hicks from a reliever to a starter; the return of Alex Cobb and the newly-signed Ray off the Injured List; and the potential of right-handed Carson Whisenhunt making his major league debut later this season.

Snell will still need to pass a physical. Once he was done so, it could be assumed that Snell will join the Giants in their final week of camp in Scottsdale, and will get a start or two prior to the Giants’ opener in San Diego on March. It is most likely that Snell will begin the Regular Season in the minor leagues, and be ready to join the Giants in the middle of April.

Other Notes:

The Giants and Longtime Public Address Announcer Renel Brooks-Moon mutually parted ways on Monday.

Brooks-Moon, who had served as the Giants’ PA announcer for 24 years since then-Pacific Bell Park’s opening in 2000, has enshrined herself into Giants Lore. She was behind the microphone for the Giants’ run to the National League Pennant in 2002, and their three world championships in 2010, 2012 and 2014.

Brooks-Moon was at Barry Bonds’ breaking of the single-season record on Oct. 5, 2001 against the Dodgers, and his breaking of the all-time home run record on Aug. 7, 2007 against the Washington Nationals.

She was also there for Matt Cain’s Perfect Game against the Houston Astros on June 13, 2012, as well as Tim Lincecum’s two no-hitters, which were thrown on July 9, 2009 and June 25, 2014 respectively, both against the Padres.

Brooks-Moon has become a beloved and outspoken figure not just with the Giants, but with San Francisco and the Bay Area. She was the voice of the Cathedral of 3rd and King, and for so many younger fans, they do not know Giants Baseball without her.

There has yet to be word on who Brooks-Moon’s replacement will be, or how the process will play out.

J.D. Davis signed a one-year deal with the Oakland Athletics on Saturday, following his release from the Giants on March 11.

Davis was encouraged to come to Oakland by Alex Wood, who had been a member of the Giants’ rotation from 2021 to 2023. They are also joined by Ross Strippling, who the Giants traded to Oakland on Feb. 2.

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

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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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Big Star Free Agents do not come to San Francisco

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Yoshinobu Yamamoto is being sought by the New York Mets brass who flew out to Japan to meet him. The San Francisco Giants are interested in obtaining Yamamoto’s services. Teams seeking Yamamoto will likely turn out to be a bidding war. (AP News file photo)

Big Star Free Agents do not come to San Francisco

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

SAN FRANCISCO–Last year, the Giants tried to lure free agents Aaron Judge and Carlos Correa, but they failed; other big stars like Bryce Harper (when he was a Free-Agent) have spurned the Giants. It has become much more common now that many big-name free-agent players dislike coming and playing in San Francisco.

It is not the money because the players I am talking about get the cash they want anywhere. It could be about the reputation that San Francisco has nationwide nowadays. Could it be the City by the Bay social-political situation has become not a favorite destination for some of the game’s biggest stars?

Most of these big-name free-agent players that get those multi-million dollar contracts tend to be conservative or non-political, and sometimes San Francisco doesn’t ‘rub them well”. They are all aware of this because, in today’s communication world, there is more than enough information out there, especially in social media.

This is what Farhan Zaidi, GM of the Giants, told Sussan Slusser of the SF Chronicle last year: “When we’re doing our research on free agents, and we find that players aren’t really that happy even coming into town for a three-game series, they’re probably not going to be that excited to play there for a long time.

So I think that’s part of what fueled our strategy of targeting guys with Bay Area ties. … Free agency is really, really competitive, especially at the top of the market. Even when you think you can sign a player, you’re probably not; that’s how it works. So when you don’t think you’ll sign a player, you’re definitely not going to sign him.”

No team needed Ohtani more than the Giants, but he is also not coming here. After Shohei Ohtani signed with the Dodgers, another Japanese player remains of high value; it is pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the best pitcher in Japan; estimates of this 25-year-old pitching star are that he could earn as much as a $300 million contract, and the Dodgers (of course) will go after him to paired him with Ohtani as they both won the 2023 World Baseball Classic together and have been playing together for years now.

Other free agents are Cody Bellinger, Matt Chapman, Jung-Hoo Lee, Teoscar Hernández, JD Martínez, Dylan Cease, Blake Snell, Corbin Burns, and Tyler Glasnow. Giants could use some more power in that lineup; Bellinger might be a good choice.

This 2023 off-season, the Giants went after Shohei Ohtani (who, like Aaron Judge last year, was the biggest fish to catch). Still, Ohtani decided to stay in Southern California and signed the richest-ever contract in American sports with the Los Angeles Dodgers, a 10-year mega-deal for $700 million.

Another reason for Giants fans to hate the Dodgers, but at this time, the Giants fans cannot be pleased with their General Manager Pete Putila. Is he a victim of circumstances that are beyond his control? What can you do if you offer big money contracts but players do not consider your offers? The mega-stars are not coming to San Francisco.

Note: Tom Cruise made $100 million for “Top Gun: Maverick,” his most recent movie, a worldwide success. Ohtani is making $700 million in 10 years with the Dodgers, also in Hollywood.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez for News and Commentary podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com