Tag: Gabe Kapler

Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O: 49ers Purdy out of action against Green Bay sore throwing shoulder; Raiders Crosby fined twice by NFL; plus more news

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) is all wrapped up by Seattle Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara on Sun Nov 17, 2024 (AP News photo)

Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O:

#1 San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is a scratch for today’s game in Green Bay as he is suffering a shoulder injury on throwing side. Purdy will miss his first game in three seasons as starting quarterback for the 49ers and didn’t miss a start when he was a quarterback in college.

#2 Las Vegas Raiders pass rusher Maxx Crosby who did not get a sack for the third straight week. To make matters worse Crosby was fined by the league for unsportsmanship like conduct and unnecessary roughness. Maxx was charged with kneeing, striking, and kicking Miami Dolphin players,.

#3 New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones requested a trade after being the starting quarterback after nine seasons. Jones is in a four year $160 million contract and has not performed at the level the Giants would expect: In ten games for the Giants Jones has completed 63% of his passes for 2970 yards, eight touchdowns and seven interceptions.

#4 Charlie turning to baseball news, former San Francisco Giants bench coach Aylssa Nakken has left the Giants to become an assistant for player development for the Cleveland Guardians. Nakken was the first female coach in Major League Baseball history on Arp 12, 2022. Former Giants manager Gabe Kapler brought her on board as a coach and she was a huge inspiration for girls and women softball and baseball players alike. Nakken will join former Giant coaches Craig Albernaz and Kai Correa. Albernaz is associate manager and Correa is a field coordinator. Former Giants catcher Stephen Vogt who is the Cleveland Guardians was mainly responsible for bringing Nakken on board.

#5 The MLB Baseball Writers Association of America have voted Shohei Ohtani the National League MVP and Aaron Judge the American League MVP. Ohtani win the MVP Award for the third straight time. Judge led MLB hitters with 58 home runs, 144 RBIs, 133 walks, and hit .322. Both Ohtani and Judge were in the 2024 World Series.

Join Charlie O for Headline Sports podcasts Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Top five teams pursuing Ohtani; Hinch gets long term deal with Tigers; plus more news

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Detroit Tigers manager AJ Hinch received a contract extension on Mon Dec 3, 2023. The Tigers didn’t name the amount of years but said it was a long contract. (Athletic file photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, talk about some of the teams that have shown interest in obtaining free agent Shohei Ohtani are the Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, and the San Francisco Giants.

#2 How ironic is it that former Houston Astros manager AJ Hinch who kicked out of Houston for the garbage can drumming scandal now is the darling of the Detroit Tigers as manager. Hinch was reportedly signed by the Tigers on Monday for a very long time. Hinch and the Tigers finished the 2023 season 78-84, the Tigers seventh straight losing season. The Tigers are very confident that Hinch can get this club turned around.

#3 Jimmy Leyland who led the Miami Marlins to the 1997 World Series championship was voted into the MLB Hall of Fame last Sunday. Leyland was named on 15 of 16 ballots. Leyland becomes the 23rd MLB manager to get elected to the hall a string that started in 1980. The Leyland is also remembered for managing the Detroit Tigers and Pittsburgh Pirates.

#4 The Miami Marlins hired former San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler as assistant general manager on Monday. Kapler who lead the Giants to a 296-248 record during his tenure. Kapler also led the Giants to 107 wins in the 2021 season. This was the only Giants team to win 107 games and make it to the post season under Kapler. The Marlins still haven’t named a general manager to replace Kim Ng who had stepped down from the GM role.

#5 Amaury, with Formula One Race making Las Vegas their home Bally’s Hotel and Casino say this is a big opportunity to give the company and profits in entertainment when the Oakland A’s ballpark is built. The Rhode Island based company Bally’s says it plans to demolish the Tropicana to make way for the A’s ballpark and plan to include a plaza with the park. The entire space is 35 acres with nine acres dedicated to the ballpark.

Join Amaury for News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Bob Melvin back with the Giants

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Bob Melvin Topps baseball card

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

SAN FRANCISCO–When the Giants hired Gabe Kapler in 2020, they did not hire the right man. Now, they hired Bob Melvin and he is the right man.

This time Bob Melvin returns to the Giants, but as a manager. In 1986 Bob Melvin played the first of his three years with the Giants. That same 1986 when Melvin played catcher for the Giants, another manager, Dusty Baker retired as a player across the bay with the Oakland Athletics.

In total after playing with the Giants Melvin played for another seven years, a total of ten years in MLB. BoMel has also managed in: Seattle (2003-04), Arizona (2005-06), Athletics (2011-21 and San Diego (2022-23).

I first met Melvin in Seattle, when he was managing his first team, the Mariners and I was broadcasting home games for the Mariners in Spanish. He always had a kind word with yours truly, a mutual respect he always has shown with the media. Now, he is returning to the Bay Area, his original home base and were he was born.

Bob Melvin is the right man for the San Francisco Giants. After a bad 2023 where they finished next to last in the western division, this was not a surprise. Gabe Kapler had to go and they needed a new manager, and the moment the San Diego Padres gave permission to Melvin to interview with the Giants, is the moment I knew he was coming to the Bay Area again.

BoMel managed the A’s for 11 seasons and took them into six Postseasons, always a tough job with a team often with the lowest payroll in the game, he also won two of his three Manager of the Year Award with the A’s 2012 and 2018, the other time in 2007 with the Arizona Diamondbacks. In 2001 Melvin was a bench coach with the Arizona Diamondback and won a World Series ring.

Just like Dusty Baker (who also managed the Giants) during his 26 year-career as a manager. Bob Melvin is a player’s manager, Bright, affable, gets along with everybody, players as well as media wherever he has managed. Here in the Bay Area he is one the favorites all-time managers, very professional and hard working.

The Bay Area native had a difficult situation with the Padres in San Diego, a team loaded with high priced-talent, but just like in Hollywood, where movies with too many stars and egos do not produce a good film, the Padres were a disaster this year underachieving, until the last few weeks when they started winning, but it was too late. Manny Machado was one of those players that did not make the other players better, guys like Fernando Tatis Jr, and Juan Soto or Xander Bogaerts. The Padres had zero chemistry.

Some were surprised when Bob Melvin was given the opportunity to interview with the Giants, after all he had a year left in his contract in San Diego. I was not one of those, San Diego management understood his situation, one that was never comfortable for Melvin, specially with the guys in the front office. My contact in San Diego told me about this, just mid-way through this season, and people ‘in the know’ always were aware of the bad situation for BoMel in San Diego.

Giants just hired a winner, a good man and a bright manager, a strategist of character and honestly. I welcome him to the Bay Area, again.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead radio voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportradioservice.com

MLB The Show Post Season podcast with Augie Mesenburg: Rangers quickly take 2-0 ALCS lead; D-Backs-Phils could be a big surprise

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Texas Rangers starter Jordan Montgomery shutout the Houston Astros in game 2 of the ALCS at Minute Maid Field in Houston on Mon Oct 16, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the MLB Post Season podcast with Augie:

#1 Augie, how surprising has it got to be for the Houston Astros and Dusty Baker to be down 0-2. The Astros are the experienced post season team in the post season.

#2 Talk about the Rangers manager Bruce Bochy. You knew him for years in San Francisco and with the Rangers he hasn’t lost his touch he’s got the Rangers just two games away from winning the American League title.

#3 The Arizona Diamondbacks and Philadelphia Phillies both surprised everyone when they each beat their opponents in the best 3 of 5 series. The Diamondbacks came into Championship an underdog and who beat the Los Angeles Dodgers to get there and the Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves to get into the NLCS.

#4 Former Oakland A’s pitcher Trevor May who announced his retirement on Monday didn’t hold back about his former owner John Fisher and would like to see the sale of the team saying, “Sell the team, dude,” May said. “.Sell it, man. Let someone who actually, like, takes pride in the things they own own something. There’s actually people who give a s— about the game. Let them do it. Take mommy and daddy’s money somewhere else, dork.”

#5 San Francisco Giants are interviewing Alyssa Nakken for manager of the Giants. If Nakken was to get hired she would become the first female manager in MLB history. Nakken was the first woman coach in MLB history as she was hired by former Giants manager Gabe Kapler. The Giants have also interviewed coaches Kia Correa and Mark Hallberg.

Augie Mesenburg is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Posey, Melvin, Wotus, Correa, who amongst them will be Giants next manager

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Former San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey takes to the 2012 World Series celebration back on Oct 31, 2012. Posey has been named as a top candidate for manager for the Giants job. It’s unlikely that Posey will take the job according to sources as Posey left baseball to have more time with his family. (AP file photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Stephen:

#1 Stephen wanted to go over some of the top candidates for the job of manager of the San Francisco Giants. We’ll start with Buster Posey nothing like name recognition. He’s a three time World Champion catcher and a no one would be surprised if he gets on a Hall of Fame ballot after the five year waiting period is up. Yet can Posey come in and manage the club with no managerial experience what would that adjustment be like?

#2 Bob Melvin is still managing the San Diego Padres but that all could come to an end. The Padres didn’t make post season and Padres GM AJ Preller and CEO Erik Greupner will be meeting Melvin Monday at Petco Park to discuss Melvin’s future. If Melvin gets canned in San Diego he’s been speculated as one of the top contenders for the Giants job. He managed a struggling Oakland A’s club and got the best out of a bad situation, he was a former Giants catcher and is well known and admired for his work in the Bay Area.

#3 Giants third base coach Mark Hallberg is considered the best candidate for the job. He’s well respected and has worked with all the players through his time as third base coach and the players would say he would be a fit. Hallberg was good friends with Posey and if Hallberg was named manager he might tab Posey to come back as a coach.

#4 Ron Wotus is a special assistant with the Giants and a fan favorite. Wotus has been coaching the team under managers Dusty Baker, Felipe Alou, Bruce Bochy, and now Gabe Kapler. Wotus spoke to the team after last Wednesday night’s game after the Giants lost giving up three runs in the top of the tenth inning against the Padres in a 5-2 loss. The writing was on the wall after that game. Did Wotus speaking with the team have meaning for the future for him as a possible manager.

#5 Stephen, just mentioning three more names that could come up available as manager the Rockies Bud Black, the Angels Phil Nevin, the Yankees Aaron Boone, and the Brewers Craig Counsell. Of that short list who do you see having a chance joining the helm at the Giants.

Stephen Ruderman was a MLB podcast contributor for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB podcast with Charlie O: Bob Melvin named on Giants short list for manager; Orioles Bautista could be out for 2024 with Tommy John; plus more

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San Diego Padres manager Bob Melvin, left, watches batting practice with third base coach Matt Williams (right) in the background before a game against the Oakland A’s on Fri Sep 15, 2023 at the Oakland Coliseum. Melvin is a top candidate to replace the recently fired San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler. (AP News photo)

On the MLB podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Charlie O, the San Francisco Giants after firing manager Gabe Kapler on Friday have a short list of replacements in mind top names mentioned former Giants catcher and San Diego Padres manager Bob Melvin and former Giants catcher Buster Posey.

#2 Tommy John surgery can be a devastating and it will be for the Baltimore Orioles pitcher Felix Bautista. The surgery can set Bautista back by missing the 2024 season. Bautista was placed on the 15 day IL on Aug 26th one day after he got hurt in a game against the Colorado Rockies.

#3 The New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone addressed pitcher Carlos Rodon’s turning his back on pitching coach Matt Blake. Rondon pitching against the Kansas City Royals threw zero innings, 35 pitches without getting an out, giving up eight eight earned runs and six hits. The thing that brought a lot of attention to this story was Rodon’s turning his back on Blake.

#4 Charlie, the Miami Marlins have been here before they clinched their fourth playoff birth on Saturday as the Marlins dominated scoring a run in each of the first, third and ninth innings and two runs in each of the sixth and eighth innings to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-3.

#5 Charlie, talk about your memories of former and late Baltimore Orioles third baseman Brooks Robinson. Robinson known as the human vacuum cleaner for his dives and grabs of balls that seem not reachable. 16 Golden Gloves. He was key in the 1970 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds a team and a World Series you might remember.

#6 Charlie, one more thing before I let you go Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper after the ejection flipping the helmet in the stands “give it to the kid.”

Join Charlie O through out the post season for the MLB podcasts Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants fire Gabe Kapler after four seasons

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San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler walks to the dugout after making a pitching change during the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Thu Sep 29, 2023. Which turned out to Kapler’s last game as a Giants manager. (AP News photo)

By Mary Anne

The San Francisco Giants fired their manager Gabe Kapler, also known as Kap, after four seasons with the team from 2020-23. Kapler led the Giants to one postseason trip in 2021 when they lost to their biggest rival, the Los Angeles Dodgers, in five games in the 2021 National League Division Series (NLDS). The Giants finished 107-55 in 162 regular-season games with a .660% win percentage in ’21.

Kapler previously served as manager of the Philadelphia Phillies from 2018-19. As an MLB shortstop, Kapler played for the Detroit Tigers (1998-99), Texas Rangers (2000-02), Colorado Rockies (2002-03), Boston Red Sox (2003-04, 2005-06), Yomiuri Giants (2005), Milwaukee Brewers (2008), and Tampa Bay Rays (2009-2010). And, as a NCAA baseball player, Kapler played for Cal State Fullerton before transferring to Moorpark College. Kapler was inducted into the Moorpark College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008.

The Giants’ firing of Kapler, a 48-year-old Reseda, Los Angeles, California, native, came with just three regular-season games in 2023. The Giants’ record is 78-81, pending the final score of tonight’s home game against the Dodgers, who are 98-61 at present.

In a statement released to ESPN, Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi said he made the “recommendation to ownership” to fire Kapler and then did so after “receiving their approval.”

Kai Correa will serve as interim manager for the Giants’ last three games. Correa, an infield and baserunning coach, has been with the Giants since 2020. The 35-year-old is a Hilo, Hawaii, native of Native Hawaiian, Portuguese, and Japanese descent. Correa’s alma mater is the University of Puget Sound, where he played NCAA baseball and graduated with a degree in U.S. history.

Correa previously served as an infield coach and a defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Indians, a volunteer assistant and assistant coach for the University of Northern Colorado, and head assistant coach, recruiting coordinator, infield coach, and third-base coach for the University of Puget Sound.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Adiós Kapler!~ -Kai Correa named SF interim manager; Giants dismiss Kapler as manager with three games left in the season

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The San Francisco Giants named Kai Correa as interim manager after firing Gabe Kapler on Thu Sep 29, 2023 (file photo USA Today)

Adiós Kapler!~ -Giants dismiss manager with three games left in the season

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

SAN FRANCISCO–Gabe Kapler was never that popular when the Giants first signed him in 2020 and today became the first Giants manager to be fired since in September of 1995 when Jim Davenport was fired and replaced by Roger Craig.

In 2021 the Giants overachieved and won 107 games, and Gabe Kapler won the NL Manager of the Year. After two years as skipper of the Philadelphia Phillies, 2023 was the fourth season for Kapler.

Soon after noon on September 29, the San Francisco Giants released this statement: “He has been dedicated and passionate in his efforts to improve the on-field performance of the San Francisco Giants and I have tremendous respect for him as a colleague and friend” said team president Farhan Zaidi. Kapler’s first season with San Francisco was the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign”

Names already rumored to be possible candidates for Giants manager in 2024, Menlo Park native and three-time Manager of the Year Bob Melvin, ending his first season as manager of the San Diego Padres, also Oakland A’s manager Mark Kotsay. But it is “too early” to tell.

Meanwhile, Giants veteran shortstop and three-time World Champion Brandon Crawford 36, said he likes to retire as a Giant, but he still contemplating his future and was not ready to commit to anything just yet. Crawford made the statement just a few days ago, on September 21. About the speculation if he is going to play his last game as a Giant and retire this next Sunday when the team closes the season against the LA Dodgers, he said: “I don’t have an answer, but there’s been plenty of thoughts”.

San Francisco closes the season at home this weekend with a three-game series against the Western Division champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

Loss in Giants clubhouse and post season could spell Zaidi and Kapler’s demise; Could Wotus be next in line for manager’s job?

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San Francisco Giants special assistant and former third base coach Ron Wotus could possibly be in line for the Giants manager job. (AP file photo)

By Barbara Mason

San Francisco Giants team president Farhan Zaidi was asked by the Giants flagship station KNBR on Thursday did he see manager Gabe Kapler returning next season. Zaidi gave a non answer saying he appreciated that Giants owner Greg Johnson gave assurances that both Kapler and Zaidi would be returning for the 2024 season.

Zaidi talked about Kapler losing the clubhouse saying culturally when things are going right this group loves being together, they’re having fun. “But when you’re not doing well those things can be seen in a negative light,” he said.

On Monday night the Giants returned to Oracle Park taking on the San Diego Padres in a three game series. San Francisco pitcher Logan Webb had a sound outing winning 2-1. Instead of patting himself on the back for a fine outing when it was mentioned that he could be a NL Cy Young Award winner Webb gave credit to his opposing pitcher the Padres Blake Snell. He said that Snell should be the Cy Young Award winner and that he pitched a fine game.

Webb added that it’s not fun anymore. He said that the joy and fun just isn’t there right now. The Giants on Wednesday night lost after going into the top of the tenth inning with a 2-2 tie but saw three runs score for San Diego on a throwing error allowing a run and a two RBI base hit. There seems to be some malcontent in the locker room.

It was the quickest exit by the fans after the Padres scored the last two runs that had been seen at Oracle Park in a long time. The culture that Zaidi was talking about is just about all but gone. The Giants at one time had a shot at getting a Wild Card spot but went 2-8 on the previous road trip losing two out of three in Colorado, swept in two games in Arizona, and losing three out of four in Los Angeles.

The Giants really needed those wins on that road trip but it got away from them. The clubhouse after that road trip was strained at best. Kapler was stoic when answering questions at his post game meeting with the press after Wednesday night’s loss to the Padres.

When the Giants bombed on that last road trip Webb spoke up about the clubhouse mood. Then they lost two out of three to the Padres at Oracle and that mood was even more strained than on this last road trip. Johnson who seemed to be assured that Zaidi and Kapler would be back next season puts that statement in doubt.

Ironically special assistant coach Ron Wotus whose been with the Giants through four managers, Dusty Baker, Felipe Alou, Bruce Bochy and now Kapler could be a successor as manager if Kapler were to be fired. It was reported when Wotus spoke to the clubhouse all the players gave him their attention.

Webb questioned, “Why would you get to this position and not give it your best? Give it your all. I think it’s a great message, right. Because no matter what happens at the end of the year, we’re just going to go right back to the offseason and show up in spring training,” he said. He also believes that the team will do their best to try to get back into a possible post-season scenario much like the one they just blew in 2023.

Barbara Mason covers Giants baseball on the road for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Webb says losing not fun, not enjoyable; Does CEO Larry Baer share in the blame?

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb works against the San Diego Padres during the first inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Tue Sep 26, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman:

#1 San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb who did win his last game last Monday night said after the game that he was tired of losing despite winning the game and gave praise to San Diego pitcher Blake Snell who opposed him saying he was the one who deserved the Cy Young Award. Webb also added he was tired of losing as the Giants once again will not be a post season team.

#2 Webb said that Alex Cobb pitched good enough all season long and was an All Star this season and it was a shame that someone like that didn’t make post season after all the work he put into the season.

#3 You had mentioned this on your last Giants podcast why would any free agent want to sign with the Giants? Is it the environment, is it that manager Gabe Kapler and team president Farhan Zaidi have trouble making thing work amongst deals and certain strategies on the field.

#4 Does the problems go to the top with team CEO Larry Baer how much does he bare some of the brunt of the blame because he’s watching how much he spends on getting talent or is there some belt tightening involved?

#5 Baer said that the attendance would surge but the Giants are 17th in attendance. Some critics say Baer inherited two World Champion teams from former team CEO Bill Neukom and once those teams dissolved the Giants made the post season just once?

Stephen Ruderman is filling in for Michael Duca on the Giants podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com