Tag: Chicago White Sox

Cal alum Vaughn returns home for weekend series

Published on by jeremy2878Leave a comment

The Chicago White Sox Andrew Vaughn rounds the bases after a hitting a home run on Wed Apr 27, 2022 at Guarantee Rate Field in Chicago against the Kansas City Royals. Vaughn made his return to his native Bay Area when he faced the San Francisco Giants on Fri Jul 1, 2022 at Oracle Park. (AP News file photo)

By Jeremy Harness

SAN FRANCISCO – There haven’t been too many bright spots in this disappointing season for the Chicago White Sox, but Andrew Vaughn is certainly one of them.

The 24-year-old outfielder, who grew up in nearby Santa Rosa and spent many weekend afternoons as a kid going to Giants games at Oracle Park, made another trip to the ballpark Friday night, this time as a player in an opposing uniform.

After winning the Golden Spikes Award – annually given to the best amateur baseball player in the United States – in 2018, he was selected by the White Sox with the third overall pick of the draft the following year, signing with the team for $7.2 million.

He was called up by the big club in 2021 and finished the year with a .235 batting average, and he has really stepped it up in his second big-league season.

He entered Friday’s game with a .307 average with seven homers and 33 RBI, and he currently leads the majors with a .369 average on the road.

He made some loud contact on Friday but did not get much out of it in the beginning. He hit a hard liner in the top of the first, but it was right to shortstop Donovan Walton, who snatched it out of the air for the putout.

In his next at-bat, he hit a chopper to short and had a chance for an infield hit, only to be denied by Walton again, as he bare-handed it and made a perfect throw to first that beat Vaughn by a step.

Vaughn, however, broke through against Giants reliever Dominic Leone in the eighth, as he lined one into the gap in left-center for an easy double. He was then pulled for a pinch runner, ending his night.

HERE TODAY, GONE, WELL, TODAY: Warriors forward Damion Lee, who was best known this postseason by getting cooked by Dallas forward Davis Bertans in the Western Conference finals, threw out the first pitch at Friday’s game.

Mere minutes later, while he was still inside the ballpark, it was confirmed that Lee had agreed to a one-year deal to join the Phoenix Suns next season.

This is part of a rather-tumultuous early free-agency period for the Warriors, as they have seen Juan Toscano-Anderson sign with the Lakers while Gary Payton II signed with the Portland Trail Blazers in recent days.

FINALLY, A HIT: To say that Brandon Belt has been scuffling would be putting it lightly. The first baseman came into Friday night hitless in his previous 15 at-bats and was hitting only .087 with 11 strikeouts in his past nine games.

However, he started a two-out rally in the bottom of the first with a sharp single to left-center, and that led to the Giants loading the bases. The surge was stopped in its tracks, when an overzealous Tommy La Stella struck out swinging while attempting to put the Giants ahead, 4-0.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Daniel Dullum: Longoria hasn’t decided on retirement yet; Giants open 3 game series with White Sox Friday

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants hitter Evan Longoria swings for an RBI single in the bottom of the first inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco against the Detroit Tigers on Tue Jun 28, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Daniel:

#1 San Francisco Giants third baseman Evan Longoria has given retirement the long and thoughtful process. Longoria has said that he has his good days and and his bad days but has not decided there is little doubt he’s still able to produce.

#2 Since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020 and suffering several injuries including a recent finger surgery Longoria has said about retirement that he hasn’t made up his mind and is hitting .256, 30 hits, 8 home runs, and 18 RBIs and hit a home run on Wednesday and can still produce.

#3 Daniel if Longoria hangs it up he’s had quite a resume winning the 2008 AL Rookie of the Year, three All Star games, three Gold Gloves, participated in one World Series.

#4 Longoria also said that being away from his family is a huge factor. Longoria said the last three seasons have been his toughest. Suffering the injuries, the pandemic and is playing the final year of his six year $100 million contract. Longoria who lives in Arizona said that if he continued to play it would have to be a deal that makes sense for his family.

#5 The Giants open up a three game series Friday night against the Tony LaRussa and the Chicago White Sox. Lance Lynn (1-1, 6.19) gets the call for the Sox and he’ll be opposed by the Giants starter Alex Cobb (3-3, 5.48) a 7:15 pm PDT first pitch

Daniel does the San Francisco Giants podcasts Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Haase’s two run blast puts Tigers in cat bird seat edge Giants 3-2 at Oracle

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants first baseman leaps as the throw goes over his head and allows the Detroit Tigers runner Victor Reyes (22) to reach first in the top of the first inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Jun 29, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Michael;

#1 The Detroit Tigers (29-45) and San Francisco (40-34) ended up splitting a two game series at Oracle Park as the Giants took the first game on Tuesday night 4-3 but on Wednesday the Tigers got some decent pitching and home run help from Eric Haase who hit a two run home run to break a 1-1 sixth inning deadlock the Tigers would win it 3-2.

#2 The Tigers Miguel Cabrera got an RBI hit and the Tigers improved getting their 11th win against 23 loses on the road so far this season

#3 Tiger starting pitcher Rony Garcia picked up his second win against three loses. Garcia allowed one run on one hit, struck out five batters. The Tigers reliever Gregory Soto got the Giants out in order in the bottom of the ninth inning to close the door. Garcia got the win and improved his record to 3-2.

#4 The Giants Evan Longoria has been seeing the ball well he slugged his eighth home run of the season but the Giants just couldn’t capitalize on Tigers pitching and couldn’t reach home after the Longoria’s home run.

#5 The Chicago White Sox and Giants open a three game series at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Friday. Starting pitchers for the White Sox right hand pitcher Lance Lynn (1-1, 6.19) and going for the Giants right hand pitcher Alex Cobb (3-3, 3.48) first pitch 7:15 pm PDT.

Michael does the Giants podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: The best division in baseball plus

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Copy of the New York Daily News announcing the New York Mets and New York Yankees in the Subway World Series in 2000 edition could the two cross city rivals meet again in this year’s fall classic? (photo by wikipedia)

The Best Division in Baseball, Plus

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–For the first time this 2022 season there will be a third wild card team on each league. No division in baseball is better than the American League East, with the New York Yankees walking-away with the best record in baseball and Toronto, Tampa Bay and Boston poised for a tremendous race.

For the first time ever, a division could have three wild card teams going into the postseason and a total of four of the five teams in this division playing in October.

The American League East is the only division in baseball with four teams playing over .500. In the AL West, there is only one team to beat, Dusty Baker’s Houston Astros, they are the best team and will stay in first place.

The LA Angels are sputtering again, after a very nice start, they went into a funk lost 14 in a row, from May 25 to June 8,and Joe Maddon (one of the best managers in baseball) was sent packing.

Next managerial change could come from Seattle, where expectations were high for this team to win this year. Manager Scott Servais and General Manager Jerry DiPoto are in the hot seat. The Texas Rangers spend a fortune (close to half billion dollars) signing Corey Seager and Marcus Semien, they are both starting to play the way everybody expected, but I do not believe they have the pitching to overtake their State rivals Houston Astros.

The Oakland A’s are what they are. All the other teams have more established talent, they are trying to compete with rookie manager Mark Kotsay, a good baseball man, but the best jockey in the world cannot win the race if the horse is limping.

In the Central Division, considered the weakest in all the major leagues, supposed to be an easy one for the Chicago White Sox, but the great Tony LaRussa is not having much fun so far, star closer Liam Hendriks just placed into the IL.

The Minnesota Twins will be in the playoffs, as of today leading that division and the Cleveland Guardians are playing good baseball, leading the way at third-base, José Ramirez an early candidate for MVP. Watch out for the Indians, sorry, the Guardians, they have a good team and a terrific manager in Terry Francona.

There are some 100 games left for each team this season. While in New York they are talking about a Subway Series, Mets vs Yankees. Most recently, in 2000 the New York teams faced each other with the Yankees winning in five games, a memorable series, which I happened to worked for the Latino Baseball Network.

In other cities there is lots of disappointment. In Los Angeles, the Dodgers, whose manager, Dave Roberts predicted a 2022 World Series win during an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show, when he said “We will win the World Series in 2022. We will win the World Series this year.”

The Dodgers have pitching problems, ace Walker Buehler recently went into the IL, Julio Urias is not going to win 20 games again this season (he was the only to win 20 last season) plus mixed with an inconsistent offense, the Dodgers have stuff to “figure out”, they do have the talent.

The San Diego Padres, at this time, even with the delayed return of superstar Fernando Tatis Jr, looks like the team that could win this division. Bob Melvin is doing a great job, which is nothing new for the three-time Manager of the Year.

The San Francisco Giants, while they are not going to win 107 games again, they find a way to win series, starter Jacob Junis went into the IL, veterans like Evan Longoria and Brandon Belt, can’t seem to stay healthy.

Giants lost some pieces in the off-season, perhaps the biggest one, starter Kevin Gausman who had his best year ever in 2021 with a 14-6 record, and 2.81 ERA, he left for a very lucrative contract in Toronto. Nobody expected the Giants to have a similar season as 2021, which was a dream season, when every player at the same time, had great years.

Trades: The new deadline this year is set for August 2. There will be many trades, some earlier than others, but the greatest commodities are starting pitchers. they are in high demand. Many of the teams with hopes of postseason play will reinforce themselves. In today’s game the old saying “you never have enough pitching” is new again.

Happy Fathers Day weekend.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez for all the play by play of Oakland A’s baseball on the A’s Spanish radio network and on flagship station Le Grande 1010 KIQI San Francisco and News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: White Sox surprised Yanks Donaldson got just a one day suspension; Cardinals Molina out for bereavement after pitching Sunday

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

New York Yankees Josh Donaldson (left) and manager Aaron Boone (right) talk during the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Guarantee Rate Field in Chicago on Sun May 22, 2022 (AP News)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 MLB suspended New York Yankees Josh Donaldson one game for making a Jackie Robinson reference to Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson on Saturday. Donaldson after the game in New York made the Jackie Robinson reference and said he meant no disrespect but White Sox pitching coach Ethan Katz was surprised that he only got one day.

#2 The Jackie Robinson reference was an undertone a dog whistle to Anderson who is black and Donaldson is white player. Donaldson said that he was joking around in the past with Anderson about the Robinson reference when Anderson said he feels like today’s Jackie Robinson.

#3 Amaury, Sunday the St Louis Cardinals pitcher Yadier Molina who pitched in relief giving up two home runs and four runs after the Cardinals swept the Pittsburgh Pirates in four games at PNC Park. The Cardinals have placed Molina on the bereavement list the reason for the bereavement was not disclosed.

#4 The San Francisco Giants are coming off losing a three game sweep against the San Diego Padres at Oracle Park. The Giants also lost first baseman Brandon Belt to the 10 day IL for an inflamed right knee. Giants manager Gabe Kapler said the team is still in good shape.

#5 The Oakland A’s have lost seven of their last ten games and have lost two of three to the Los Angeles Angels over the weekend including Sunday’s 4-1 loss. A’s pitcher Cole Irvin lost the contest and the A’s are not getting any run support.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Lots of blow back Rangers manager calls Yankee Stadium a Little League Park; Umpire leaves game after getting hit by foul ball; plus much more

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The New York Yankees Gleyber Torres gets ready to walk it off against the Texas Rangers last Sun May 8, 2022 at Yankee Stadium after the bottom of the ninth home run Ranger manager Chris Woodward said the stadium is like hitting in a Little League Park (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary:

#1 Texas Rangers manager Chris Woodward called Yankee Stadium a Little League Park after Sunday’s front end of a doubleheader when the Yankees Gleyber Torres hit a walk off home run. Woodward got an avalanche of heat for calling one of baseball’s cathederals a Little League Park.

#2 How much was it based on frustration for Woodward on losing to the Yankees on Sunday as Yankee Stadium does have a short porch. You could be assured Woodward heard it from Yankee fans on Monday.

#3 Scary moment as home plate umpire Ron Kulpa was hit in the mask by Chicago White Sox third baseman Jake Burger by a foul ball on Sunday against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Burger was checked by trainers after falling at the plate walked off the field under his own power and was replaced by Marty Foster.

#4 New York Mets coach Eric Chavez said that balls are being juiced to get out more there is no secret that all big league clubs are using humidors but on Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN prime time games Chavez said that he first didn’t believe it when players came to him about it but watched and said the ball was traveling further on the eye test but it also lined up with what the analytics were telling them.

#5 Amaury the last three games in Minnesota against the Minnesota Twins the Oakland A’s lost by some low scoring games but they can’t seem to break out the bats and get the run production that manager Mark Kotsay would hope. Luckily the Detroit Tigers are a struggling bunch and the A’s got a couple runs to get by them on Monday night to end their nine game losing streak at Comerica Park 2-0.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez with Manolo Hernandez Douen for all the play by play action on the Oakland A’s Spanish flagship station 1010 KIQI San Francisco and for News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Red Sox wait for Astros or White Sox; Braves on the brink; Giants coming off some miracle pitching need one more

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora (left) is Amaury’s pick for the 2021 Manager of the Year Award here he has a laugh with bench coach Tim Hyers (right) during game 3 of the ALDS against the Tampa Bay Rays Sat Oct 9, 2021 at Fenway Park in Boston (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary:

#1 The Boston Red Sox who have had their share of walk off wins now wait for their next opponent after getting a ninth inning walk off in their game four victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night. The Red Sox will face either the Houston Astros or the Chicago White Sox.

#2 The Houston Astros who have a 2-1 ALDS series lead over the Chicago White Sox tonight at Guarantee Rate Field in Chicago need one more to advance to the ALCS and face the Boston Red Sox. But not before battling with Tony LaRussa’s White Sox. Chicago knows they have their backs to the wall against a very well prepared Dusty Baker’s Houston Astros.

#3 The Atlanta Braves have had just nothing short of great pitching in their last two games against the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS. The Braves got two back to back shutouts by scores of 3-0 to take a 2-1 lead in the series after the Brewers took game 1. The Brewers will be starting Eric Lauer a left hander against the Braves Charlie Morton in game five today at Trusit Park in Cobb County.

#4 The San Francisco Giants got their wins on shutouts against the Los Angeles Dodgers mighty line up. The Dodgers are without Max Muncy and Clayton Kershaw during this NLDS did that handicap them? The Dodgers got an offensive outburst in game 2 with a 9-2 win against Giants starter Kevin Gausman. The Giants got shutouts out of pitchers Logan Webb and Alex Webb in games 1 and 2 but really depend on starter Anthony DeScafani who matches up against the Dodgers Tony Gonsolin in game four tonight at Dodgers Stadium.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does News and Commentary podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: The Ultimate Baseball Face-off – Dusty Baker vs Tony LaRussa

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker (left) and Chicago White Sox manager Tony LaRussa meet at Minute Maid Field in Houston on Thu Oct 7, 2021 for game 1 of the ALDS (file photo NBC Sports)

The Ultimate Baseball Face-off – Dusty Baker vs Tony LaRussa

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The American League Divisional Series is an attractive one. Two of the best hitting teams in all of baseball with very good pitching also. Manager Dusty Baker of the AL Western Division Champion Houston Astros, who will host Tony La Russa Manager of the Chicago White Sox Champion of the AL Central Division. Two excellent managers, who both return to the show after a few years of “unemployment”.

The two managers cut their teeth here in the Bay Area, Tony (The Hall of Famer) with the Athletics and Dusty (The Players Manager) with the Giants, they are two “old school” managers, not necessarily going by today’s super hyper stats of high-velocity pitches and hits, infield shifts, launch angle and all the other stuff which some media and fans overdose these days. Both not afraid of using the bunt, sacrifice, or as well as the hit and run or ‘run and hit’ and very much manage with their guts in-game situation.

Tony LaRussa is the active manager with the most wins ever 2,821, which places him second all-time behind the legendary owner and manager of the Philadelphia Athletics, Connie Mack who won a total of 3,731 baseball games.

Dusty Baker occupies No.12 in the all-time managers in wins with 1,987. Having covered both managers and traveled with them, there is a rivalry between both, the two oldest managers in baseball this season, Tony 77, Dusty 72.

They both speak conversational Spanish. In the 1980’s I recorded “El Show de Tony LaRussa” which was a three minute inside pregame show for radio. Tony would talk about the previous game with his take as a manager. With Dusty, many times I interviewed him including in the late 1990s when he was managing the Giants including 2002 when he won the National League Pennant and lost the World Series to the LA Angels.

This American League Divisional Series begins this Thursday, October 7 at Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros, who finished the season with 95-67 winning the West, while the Chicago White Sox ended with 93-69. This is the best-of-5 and Houston owns home-field advantage. Prediction: It will be a 5 game series. Houston is a much experienced postseason-proven team than Chicago. They didn’t clinch until the last week of the regular season.

Chicago White Sox won the Central Division (the weakest in baseball, second-place Cleveland Indians finished 13 games from Chicago). The Sox had their share of injuries, but they were never really challenged, they are a dynamic and mostly young ball club, which many critics believe (before the season) that LaRussa would be “too old” to win with this young group of players, but he proved those guys wrong and here is another Tony LaRussa team in the postseason.

Some great hitters for Houston in the series: José Altuve, Carlos Correa, Jordan Alvarez, Alex Bregman, Yuliesky Gurriel, who just won the league batting title with a .319 average, which today is the equivalent of hitting .340 decades ago, a breakthrough year for Kyle Tucker who was a First Round pick in the 2015 Draft, for the Astros and ended this season with his best numbers at 24 years of age, hit .294 with 30 home runs and 92 RBI. Their rotation is solid and a good bullpen to complete the game.

The Chicago White Sox can swing it with anybody. Tim Anderson, José Abreu, Yoán Moncada, Luis Robert, César Hernández, Eloy Jiménez, Yasmani Grandal, some of the names that can hit and hit for power. A very good pitching staff with Carlos Rodón, Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn, Dylan Cease, and a very strong bullpen with Craig Kimbrel and Liam Hendricks to close the game.

I give the edge to Houston in 5 games, but if Chicago wins, they have the potential to run the table and go all the way and win the World Series.

About the Wild Card game: (Note) I never liked the Wild Card game, just one game to decide a season. The LA Dodgers won 106 games this year and finished second. The first team ever to finish with 106 wins and not win their division. The Dodgers play the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday, Oct 6.

The winner advances, the other team goes home. Just image winning 106 games and getting eliminated in the first round of the postseason? Something is not right here. This is not the NFL. Solution? Wild Card should be the best of 3 games. Just reduce the season to 152 games instead of 162 to even the whole year schedule, so the World Series doesn’t end by Thanksgiving Day. Who really likes the ‘due or die games’? Fans and especially, television, who usually score very good ratings.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez call post season baseball on CBS Spanish radio and reported for Telemundo TV and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Lewis Rubman: A’s open three game series with Rangers tonight; Blackburn to start for A’s

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s starter Paul Blackburn gets the call tonight against the Texas Rangers as the A’s try to scratch for every win until the end of the season to stay alive for a shot at the post season (file photo Athletics Nation)

On the A’s podcast with Lewis Rubman:

#1 After the Oakland A’s (76-64) snapped their four game losing streak to the Chicago White Sox (80-60) on Wednesday night the A’s turned around and won another ball game against the Sox 3-1 on Thursday afternoon. The A’s need to continue winning to keep their post season hope alive.

#2 The A’s 5.5 games behind first place Houston Astros in the AL West a tall order to try and chase the Astros from here to the end of the season.

#3 Another tough customer for the A’s is when the visiting Texas Rangers pay the A’s a visit on Friday night. The Rangers although their last in the AL West and 30 games back have won seven of their last ten games and have given the A’s fits since the second half of the season started.

#4 One of the key developments in the A’s keys to winning in the Sox series is their baserunning they are 37 for 40 in stolen bases since Starling Marte has joined the club and Marte has 21 of 37 steals and the A’s as a team are 85.1% in stolen bases which is fourth in the American League.

#5 Starting pitchers for tonight at the Oakland Coliseum for the Texas Rangers RHP Glenn Otto (0-0 ERA 1.86) and for the A’s Paul Blackburn (0-2 ERA 4.12) a 6:40 pm PDT first pitch.

Lewis Rubman filled in for Jeremiah Salmonson the A’s podcasts are heard Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s rebound take 2 out of 3 from White Sox 3-1; Manaea strikes out 9

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s closer Andrew Chafin (left) shakes hands with catcher Sean Murphy (right) at the conclusion of Thu Sep 9, 2021 game at the Oakland Coliseum with a win over the Chicago White Sox (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 Jerry, after getting swept by the Toronto Blue Jays the Oakland A’s (76-64) turned around and took two out of three from the Chicago White Sox (80-60) winning Thursday afternoon 3-1.

#2 The A’s got great pitching out of starter Sean Manaea went seven innings, five hits, one earned run, a walk, nine strike outs.

#3 Jerry, Manaea had all his pitches working for him on Thursday getting nine strikeouts against a line up as good as the Sox and as good as team like the White Sox that has some pretty smart pitching.

#4 The A’s Josh Harrison got picked off second base in the bottom of the first inning 1-4-5 put out. It’s not often you see a leadoff hitter like Harrison like that.

#5 Jerry, the Texas Rangers might be 30 games out and in last place in the AL West but they are never giving up club they’re won seven out their last ten and have won four straight games going into Friday’s series against the A’s.

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