Tag: Bob Melvin

A’s enter the lion’s den starting Friday for three games at Yankee Stadium

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photo by nydailynews.com: Former Oakland A’s pitcher Sonny Gray will face his old teammates during the three game series between the A’s and New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium starting Friday night

by Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s begin a 10-game road stand against the top three teams in the AL East. They meet the New York Yankees starting Friday night at Yankee Stadium. The A’s will be facing the hottest team in baseball at the moment. The Yankees have won 17 of the last 18 games and have moved into first place in the AL East. The Yankees On their last road trip, the Yankees swept all four games against the Houston Astros in Houston. The Astros are a very good, young team as well as defending World Championships and they were trampled by New York. The Astros, after two games with Arizona, came to Oakland and swept the A’s.

The A’s have record of 18-19 and are in fourth place in the AL West. The A’s have not announced who will start Friday night. A’s starter Trevor Cahill was placed on the 10-day DL with tightness in his arm. The A’s may recall Kendall Graveman or Chris Bassitt from Nashville to make a start. Andrew Triggs will pitch on Saturday, and Brett Anderson goes for Oakland on Sunday. Triggs has pitched reasonably well but has not faced a fearsome a lineup like the Yankees. Lefty Brett Anderson throws on Sunday, and the hopes are that he will have a better outing. The Astros blasted him in the game on Monday night that they won 16-2.

The Yankees pitching stacks up this way. Former A’s starter, Sonny Gray pitches Friday night. Gray is 2-2 and his an ERA of 6.00. Gray would like nothing better than to beat his old teammates. Rookie Domingo German (0-1, 2.21) goes on Saturday, and Luis Severino, who is rapidly becoming the ace of the Yankee staff, throws on Sunday. Severino is 5-1 with an ERA of 2.21.

The Yankees are living up to the nickname of being the Bronx Bombers. They have players up and down the lineup that can knock the ball out of the park. The A’s pitchers will have to deal with Brett Gardner, Aaron Hicks, Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton. Didi Gregorius, Gary Sanchez, Neil Walker, Miguel Andujar, and Gleyber Torres. These guys are almost an entire All-Star team. If these guys continue to terrorize opponents’ pitching, A’s manager Bob Melvin butter have some Tylenol ready for his headache.

Even if the A’s can find a way to get the offense going and send the starters to the showers, the Yankee bullpen is loaded. Featured relievers are Chad Green, Chasen Shreve, David Robertson, Dellin Betances and Aroldis Chapman, the closer.

The A’s took two out of three from Boston when they were the hottest team in baseball. It can be done. Hopefully, they will find a way to upset the Yankees’ apple cart.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: After getting swept by Astros, A’s go into lion’s den at Yankee Stadium Friday night

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Photo credit: @athletics_fanly

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry:

#1 The Oakland A’s got swept by the Houston Astros in Oakland Wednesday afternoon in a 4-1 loss to Astros pitcher Gerrit Cole.

#2 The Astros in their own right got some hitting production with runs in the seventh and eighth innings.

#3 The Astros got hitting production from Jose Altuve’ three hits and a run scored and the Astros catcher Max Stassi had two hits and a run scored.

#4 Cole had a quality start with six innings, four hits, one earned run and nine strikeouts.

#5 For the A’s, it’s onto New York for three games coming off this sweep. The A’s would like to get something going.

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

That’s Amaury’s Podcast, News and Commentary: As A’s put Orioles in the rear-view mirror, Astros are a beast to deal with

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Photo credit: @Athletics

On this edition of That’s Amaury’s podcast:

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is joined on the podcast with co-hosts Jerry Feitelberg and Michael Duca talking about the A’s latest sweep over the last place Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles, who played three at the Coliseum and were swept, have now lost six straight.

This is the second worst start in team history for Baltimore at 8-26. In 1988, the O’s didn’t win a game until April 21st after going 0-21. That’s not to say the A’s didn’t play well, but it’s a big difference as they are playing the Houston Astros to open up a three-game series at the Coliseum on Monday night.

The Astros are the World Champions who are leading baseball with a 21-15 record in the AL West. The Astros have the best rotation in baseball. This series is going to be a challenge for the A’s as it was when they played each other last week in Houston.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the MLB Hispanic Heritage Museum, the Spanish play-by-play talent for the Oakland A’s, and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

A’s beat O’s 2-0 in 12 innings on Khris Davis two-run walk-off home run

Published on by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment
Davis winning HR
Khris Davis hits the game-winning walk-off HR in the 12th inning Photo: @Athletics

by Charlie O. Mallonee

Oakland – Both teams deserved to win this game. That line is overused by sports reporters around the world, but on Saturday night at the Coliseum, it was the truth. The Baltimore Orioles and Oakland Athletics put on game-winning performances in their 12-inning affair but in baseball, there are no ties. The A’s won the game 2-0.

The Athletics left the field with their 17th victory of the season after designated hitter Khris Davis hit a Pedro Araujo 3-1 pitch halfway up into the seats in left field with Jed Lowrie on at first with no outs in the bottom of the 12th inning. Unbelievably, the A’s never had a runner in scoring position during the entire contest. It is not often a team is going to escape with a win and never had advanced a runner to second base, but there was nothing usual about this game.

Old Fashion Pitchers Dual

Cahill working
Trevor Cahill recorded 12 strikeouts in a no-decision Saturday Photo: @Athletics

Trevor Cahill started the game for Oakland. Cahill set the tone for the game in the top of the first inning when he struck out the first three Orioles he faced. He struck five of the first six hitters to come bat against him. Cahill looked unbeatable on the mound.

Cahill would go on to work 6.0-innings and record 12 strikeouts while walking just one Baltimore batter. That tied Cahill for the second most strikeouts in six or fewer innings in Oakland history.

Cahill did not give up a run and allowed just four hits. He threw 98 pitches (58 strikes). Manager Bob Melvin indicated the plan was for Cahill to work seven innings but he did not want the righty to exceed 100 pitches.

Gausman
Kevin Gausman threw nine innings of two-hit baseball Photo: @Orioles

The other phenomenal story was Baltimore starting pitcher Kevin Gausman who entered the game with a record of 2-2. Gausman pitched a career-high nine innings and threw 113 pitches (66 strikes). He began the game throwing 89 mph and his last pitch of the contest registered at 98 mph on the radar gun.

Gausman threw nine shutout innings allowing just two hits while striking out six Oakland batters and walking two. It was a pitching performance that would normally have resulted in a victory.

The real irony for both of these starting pitchers who performed so well was they both recorded a no-decision for the game.

Relievers were key in this game

Oakland

  • Yusmeiro Petit came on in relief of Cahill in the top of seventh. Petit really struggled on Friday night but Melvin said had no hesitancy about sending Petit back to the hill. Petit threw 2.0-innings giving up no runs and allowing just one hit. He struck out four and walked three.
  • Santiago Casilla worked innings nine and 10. He pitched two shutout innings allowing just one hit and one hit batter.
  • Danny Coulombe pitched 1.1-innings striking out four Orioles and allowing one hit.
  • Chris Hatcher replaced Coulombe in the top of the 12th with one out. He walked the first man he faced – Trey Mancini. Craig Gentry was brought in as a pinch-runner for Mancini. With Adam Jones at bat, Gentry attempted to steal second base but was thrown out on a strong throw from catcher Bruce Maxwell to second baseman Jed Lowrie. It was the second caught stealing executed by Maxwell in the game. Hatcher induced Jones to ground out third to first for the final out of the game. Hatcher (3-0) picked up the win as he was the pitcher of record when Davis hit the game-winning home run.

Baltimore

  • Mychal Givens worked two great innings of relief of the O’s. He struck out five of the six Oakland hitters he faced and allowed no baserunners. It was simply a perfect relief effort.
  • Pedro Araujo worked the fateful 12th inning giving up the game-winning two-run home run to Davis. He is hung with the loss and is now 1-3 for the season.
Cahill K
Counting them up for Cahill Photo: @Athletics

Vital Stats

Oakland (17-16) 2 runs, 4 hits, no errors

Baltimore (8-25) 0 runs, 7 hits, no errors

Time of the game: 3:32

Attendance: 24612

Up Next

The Orioles will send RHP Alex Cobb (0-3, 9.68) to the hill to faceoff against the Athletics RHP Andrew Triggs (2-1, 5.20). This will be Cobb’s fifth start of the season. His last start versus the Angels was his longest outing of the year when he pitched 6.0-innings. Cobb has allowed 10 hits in three of his starts and allows just over five runs per appearance.

Triggs will make his seventh start of the season for Oakland. He made the start last Tuesday on the road in Seattle. Triggs pitched 4.2-innings in that game giving up four runs (all earned) off six hits. He struck out four hitters and walked three while throwing 89 pitches (49 strikes). The A’s went on to lose that game 6-3.

First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 PM.

 

 

 

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s rely heavily on pitching corp to get out of current rut; Oak A’s Manaea takes the stain off bad pitching starts Thursday

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Photo credit @Athletics: Oakland A’s pitcher Sean Manaea gets ready to face Wade LaBlanc and the Seattle Mariners tonight at Safeco Field for the get away game catch on the coverage tonight with Jerry at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

On the A’s podcast with Jerry:

#1 The Oakland A’s pitching corp are trying to get things together it was another tough night for A’s starter Andrew Triggs, who went four innings, six hits, four runs, three walks and four strikeouts in the 6-3 loss to the Mariners Tuesday night.

#2 The A’s face Seattle in the getaway game on Thursday night. A’s starter Sean Manaea (4-2) gets the call for the A’s and he’ll face Mariners starter Wade LaBlanc (0-0). Manaea has had great command since he pitched a no-hitter against the Boston Red Sox in April.

#3 Wednesday, the A’s started Brett Anderson. Anderson made his first appearance for Oakland since September 28, 2013. Anderson last started a game for the A’s in April of that year.

#4 A’s pitcher Trevor Cahill has kept the A’s in ball games since he’s been up with the team and A’s manager Bob Melvin has been happy with the way Cahill has helped out.

#5 The A’s, after playing their series in Seattle, head back to the Oakland Coliseum to open a three-game series with the last place Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles, who have also been struggling, are last and 13 games back in the AL East

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

 

Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O: Will playing opening season games in Japan be a norm; A’s and Mariners to open 2019 in Japan

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FILE – In this March 28, 2012, file photo, ground staff work prior to the American League season opening Major League Baseball game between the Oakland Athletics and the Seattle Mariners at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo. Oakland and Seattle will play an opening two-game series in Tokyo on March 20 and 21, the fifth time Major League Baseball will start its season in Japan. Oakland will be the home team for both games, Major League Baseball said Tuesday, May 1, 2018.(AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi, File)

On the A’s podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Major League Baseball has committed to Japan the Oakland A’s and the Seattle Mariners who will play two exhibition games against two Japanese teams and two regular season games, which will open 2019 on March 20 and 21st.

#2 The A’s look like they’re focusing on the Howard Terminal Waterfront as their new stadium.

#3  The rumors about those aerial trams to get fans to the waterfront from 12th Street BART.

#4 You got to visit the Bronx Zoo for the first time in your broadcast career. What was that experience like?

Charlie O does the Oakland A’s podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s Podcast, News, and Commentary: Sharks in must-win situation in Game 4 Wednesday; A’s face tough customer Mariners tonight

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Photo credit: @SanJoseSharks

On That’s Amaury’s podcast:

#1 The San Jose Sharks are pushing for a recovery from loses in Games 1 and 3 down 2-1, the Sharks got a second life after winning Game 2 when the officials waved off a goal in the first overtime and Logan Couture, who scored the game-winner on Saturday against the Vegas Golden Knights for the win.

#2 How much pressure is on the Sharks now after the Knights won an overtime game on Monday night? Game 4 is on Sharks’ ice Wednesday night.

#3 The Oakland A’s are coming off a two-game losing streak after losing two out of three from the Houston Astros. The A’s are setting up for a three-game series tonight against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Park.

#4 The M’s have a 16-11 record second place in the AL West and two games back of the Houston Astros and can make things interesting in their chase for first place.

#5 Felix Hernandez gets the start against the A’s tonight as the A’s will start Andrew Triggs.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish play-by-play announcer with the Oakland A’s and does News and Commentary for http://www.sportsraadioservice.com each week

MLB The Show podcast with Daniel Dullum: Panda keeps Dodgers off balance in relief for SF; Twins’ Buxton out; Bryant adds more padding to his helmet

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(Photo: Lance Iversen, USA TODAY Sports) San Francisco Giant Pablo Sandoval became the first position player since Greg Litton (1991) to come in and pitch last Saturday night at AT&T Park in the first game of a doubleheader

MLB The Show podcast with Daniel Dullum:

1 Panda works an inning in relief for the Giants/Giants second baseman is on the 10 day DL and might need surgery for his thumb and is expected to be out ten days

2 Injury-prone Twins OF Byron Buxton on the shelf again; Cubs’ Kris Bryant adding more protection to his batting helmet

3 Diamondbacks beat Washington on bases-loaded walk

4 Yanks skipper Aaron Boone – in uniform – asked for his credentials by security in Anaheim

5 Reds’ Joey Votto has his own ideas about the MLB schedule

Daniel does the MLB The Show podcast each weekend at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s winning ways get them just three games out of first place

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Photo credit: @BleacherReport

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry:

#1 The Oakland A’s, who swept the Chicago White Sox, took two of three from the Red Sox and won the first two games in Arlington from the Texas Rangers. They’re now only just three games out of first place.

#2 The A’s are getting the hitting now from Marcus Semien .269, Chad Pinder .281, Jed Lowrie .363, and Khris Davis .258.

#3 They just got by the Rangers on Tuesday night with a one-run 3-2 win and it took some good pitching this time to win that one from Andrew Triggs (2-0), going six innings, four hits, and one run.

#4 Looking ahead after this series, the A’s head to Minute Maid Field and face the Houston Astros, who are in first place in the AL West–ahead of the Los Angeles Angels.

#5 The A’s send out starter Sean Manaea (3-2) he’ll face the Astros Dallas Keuchel (1-3) on Friday night. With the A’s going strong right now, how do you see them matching up with Houston and after Manaea’s last start throwing a no-hitter last Saturday night against the Boston Red Sox?

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

 

That’s Amaury’s Podcast, News and Commentary: A’s continue roll; go 7 out of 8 to start road trip

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Photo credit: @lonestarball

On That’s Amaury’s podcast:

#1 The A’s have got red-hot, winning seven of their last eight games with a win to start the nine-game road trip over the Texas Rangers on Monday night 9-4 in Arlington last night.

#2 The A’s, if they aren’t getting great pitching, they’re getting great hitting and last night they got contributions from Marcus Semien, two runs and two hits, Stephen Piscotty scored a run, Jed Lowrie two hits a run scored, Khris Davis, two RBIs and a run scored.

#3 MLB records: MLB baseball had a record 32,884 strikeouts in 2008. In 2018, baseball will surpass that record on a pace of 43,163 if the swinging for the fence hitters keep this up.

#4 The LA Angels’ Shohei Ohtani pitched two innings against the Boston Red Sox on Monday night, but had to leave due to a blister on his throwing hand.

#5 The Pittsburgh Pirates are off to their best start since 1992. Third place in the central only a game and a half out of first just behind St. Louis and Milwaukee.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s Spanish radio talent, is the vice president of the MLB Hispanic Heritage Museum, and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com