Tag: Houston Astros

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: A’s hope to get back on track against Dodgers after rough Astros series

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Oakland A’s second baseman Tony Kemp makes a throw to first in the third inning to retire the Houston Astros Carlos Correa in game 3 of the four game series on Sat Apr 3, 2021 at the Oakland Coliseum (AP News photo)

Barbara on the A’s podcast:

#1 Barbara for the Oakland A’s the series with the Houston Astros pure torture the A’s took four loses in the row on Thursday through Sunday.

#2 The Astros had their bats going all series long with Yordan Alvarez, Jose Altuve, and Alex Bergman A’s pitching looked like they just couldn’t figure a way to get them out.

#3 A’s pitchers who were hit during the Houston series, A’s opening day starter Chris Bassitt five plus innings three runs, Jesus Luzardo five innings five runs, and Cole Irvin four innings four runs, Sean Manaea on Sunday over four innings plus six hits and five earned runs .

#4 A’s manager Bob Melvin was asked if he would be interested in managing another team other than the A’s after this season and he said “I have no desire to go anywhere else”

#5 The A’s will try to win a series as they host the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers who opened up the season against the Colorado Rockies and both teams played pretty even ball. Do you see the A’s recovering and maybe having a more balanced series against the Dodgers after the mismatch series they just had against the Astros?

Join Barbara for the A’s podcasts each Monday morning at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason Mon Apr 5, 2021 by Sports Radio Service | Free Listening on SoundCloud

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Was Astros Dusty outsmarting the A’s in Houston series?

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Houston Astros Jose Altuve is congratulated from manager Dusty Baker upon returning to the dugout in the fourth inning after scoring against the Oakland A’s on Thu Apr 1, 2021 at the Oakland Coliseum (AP News photo)

#1 The A’s had a pretty rough start in their first series of 2021 Dusty Baker and the Astros are a very methodical team

#2 There’s very little doubt that the Astros can produce runs as seen in these three games of the series.

#3 The A’s host the Dodgers on Monday after they had a three game series with the Colorado Rockies. The Dodgers have lots of punch in that line up with Mookie Betts, Corey Seager, Justin Turner, and Cody Bellinger.

#4 The A’s pitching staff over the three games against the Astros were in question pitcher Chris Bassitt was rocked for three earned runs in his start Thursday, Jesus Luzardo gave up five earned runs in his start on Friday, then on Saturday the A’s got rocked again by Astros hitting 9-1, the A’s got bombed again 9-2 on Sunday.

#5 The Dodgers Dustin May 0-0 a right hander will be throwing against the Oakland A’s Frankie Montas 0-0. May had a great spring beating out David Price and Tony Gonsolin for the 5th spot in the rotation. Montas lost his splitter last season and has gained it again for this season and is hoping to have a season like he did in 2019.

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

A’s Irvin can’t fool Astro hitting in 9-1 offensive barrage

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Hit high the Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez says “good bye baseball” with a three run fourth inning home run against the Oakland A’s at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat Apr 3, 2021 (AP News photo)

Houston. 9. 13. 1

Oakland. 1. 3. 0

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–The A’s came into this afternoon’s game still looking for their first win of the season. Slow starts are nothing new for this team; in eight of the last ten seasons, they have been 1-2 after three games. They tried today to join that not particularly prestigious club. (Spoiler alert: they didn’t) in a 9-1 shellacking to the Houston Astros on Saturday.

Last night’s contest threatened to become a prelude to disaster when Ramón Laureano had to leave the game after injuring his hand. It turned out to be merely a contusion, and the A’s centerfielder is listed as day to day.

Cole Irvin, Oakland’s starting pitcher, is a 27 year old lefty with a lifetime won-loss record of 2-2 and an equally unimpressive ERA of 6.75 for the Philadelphia Phillies, but his numbers for the A’s this spring were impressive: 1-1, ERA 1.00 over five games, three of which he started. He gave up ten hits in eighteen innings, surrendered only one home run, and struck out 18 opponents against three walks.

Irvin’s counterpart on the mound was the veteran right hander Lance McCullers, Jr. He brought with him a career record of 32-25, 3.70 against all comers and 5-2, 4.04 against the A’s. For 2020, those figures were 3-3, 3.93 and 5-2, 4.04, respectively.

It didn’t take long for Houston to get to Irvin. A hit batter, Michael Brantley, with one out, followed by Aledmys Díaz’s double off the left center field wall, and an RBI base knock by Kyle Tucker, and Oakland was trailing by a tally with runners at the corners. But Carlos Correa hit into an around the horn double play, and, just like that, Irvin had limited the damage.

McCullers got himsef in trouble in the bottom of the first and then, with a little help frome home plate umpire Dan Bellino, also escaped with minimal damage. Lead off walks to Mark Canha and Matt Olson, followed by a Matt Chapman strike out on a pair of wicked cutters after the count had reached 1-1, and Mitch Moreland´s RBI single to center evened the score with two on and none out. But Chad Pinder went down swinging, and Stephen Piscotty was called out on a 3-2 knuckle curve that seemed too many, including. me, to have missed the plate.

The Astros took the lead back in the second when Jose Altluve’s bases loaded two out single to left brought home Yordán Alvarez, who had opened the frame with a single to center. But, in spite of a walk to Yuri Gurriel and singles by Myles Straw and Altuve, Irvin wriggled out of the jam, striking out Martín Maldonado and Chas McCormiock, pinch hitting for Brantley, who left the game due to right wrist discomfort.

Irvin held the Astros in check until the fifth. He hit McCormick with a pitch and surrendered a single when Díaz´s line drive just barely eluded Chapman’s glove and landed in left for a single. Irvin got the left handed Tucker to pop out to short. This brought Correa to the plate, the righty-lefty match up, calling for a right handed hurler to face Houston’s shortstop.

Bob Melvin brouht in Lou Trevino to relieve his young starter. The tactic worked; Correa struck out. But last year’s rule change meant that Trevino had to pitch to the left handed hitting Alvarez, who blasted the second pitch he saw over the center field fence, just to the right of the 388 foot sign.

This gave Houston a 5-1 lead and Irvin a line of 4-1/3 innings pitched, 7 hits, one walk and 4 runs , all earned allowed, two strike outs. His pitch count was 82, with 55 strikes. Trevino retired all seven of the other batters he faced before being lifted for Burch Smith who took over mound duties to start the eighth.

Ryne Stanek replaced Lance McCullers to open the Oakland sixth. He left with a line of five innings pitched, one run, earned, two hits, and three walks charged to him. He struck out seven. 54 of his 95 pitches counted as strikes

Enoli Paredes, in turn, relieved McCullers at the start of the home eighth. getting Aramis García out on a grounder back to the mound. Then, hope rose eternal, and Oakland loaded the bases on a single Olson, sandwiched between walks to Canha and Chapman. But Brooks Raley came to Houston´s rescue and struck out Jed Lowrie, pinch hitting for Moreland, swinging. Hope rose again when Chad Pinder clouted one out to deep right center, only to die on the warning track in the glove of Myles Straw.

Reymin Guduan couldn´t hold the Astros within what they had, just a few minutes earlier, seemed like striking distance. Maldonado opened the visitors´ninth with a single to right. Altuve walked. McCormick doubled, sending Maldonado home and Altuve to third. He scored and McCormick replaced him on third when Díaz singled to left. McCormick then scored on a wild pitch to Tucker, while Díaz moved up to second. Another wild pitch sent Díaz to third. Correa broke the monotony with a single to center. He went to second on yet another wild pitch. Finally, Guduan got out of the inning by retiring Alvarez and Gurriel.

The As went down 1,2,3 in their half of the ninth.

McCullers got the win; Raley, the save. The loss went to Irvin.

Oh, well, tomorrow is another day, and Sean Manaea will try to save one game of the series before the Dodgers come to town on Monday. José Urquidy will try to extend Houston’s winning streak to four. Game time is 1:07 at the Oakland Coliseum.

Astros late run rallies spoil A’s opener 8-1 at the Coliseum

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Houston Astros runner Jose Altuve (27) slides in safely at home behind Oakland A’s catcher Sean Murphy (12) at the Oakland Coliseum Thu Apr 1, 2021 (AP News photo)

Houston. 8. 9. 2

Oakland. 1. 6. o

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–Tonight’s opening game of the 2021 season offered several subtle contrasts.. The A’s started Chris Bassitt, 32 years old and at the peak of his career. Last year’s severely shortened season was the first he had spent from start to finish on a major league roster.

In his first four big league seasons, he went 4-14, 3.86. In 2019-20, however, he went a combined 15-7, 3.35, Last year those figures were 5-2, 2.29 , and he was, arguably, Oakland’s most reliable pitcher. He features, in declining order, a sinker, cutter, four seam fastball, change-up, curve, and slider. He looked sharp during this year’s spring training.

His thirty-seven year old opponent, Zack Greinke last faced the A’s in the Coliseum on September 8, 2020 , in the first of two seven inning games of a double header. The 18 year veteran pitched respectably but not particularly well. He gave up seven hits and four earned runs in six innings and was saddled with the 4-2 loss.

His 3-3, 4.03 record that year may have been a fluke, or it may be a sign that Houston’s formidable righty has started on the downward slide of his career. He throws fastballs, change-ups, sliders , change-up, and curves. He has been known to lob an occasional eephus pitch. Maybe he should have a chat with Jesús Luzardo. They could share a turkey sub.

This was the first game played in the Coliseum before a paying crowd since the A’s wild card play-in loss to Tampa Bay on October 2, 2019 before 54,005 fans. The limit for tonight’s attendance had been announced as 20% of capacity, but that was raised to 26% yesterday. The final gate tally for tonight was 10,436.

The face of the A’s had changed during the fans’ enforced absence from the Nimitz Palace. Gone, among others, are Khris Davis and Marcus Semien. The now-you-see-him, now-you-don’t Jed Lowie is back, and Elvis Andrus patrols the left side of the infield between him and Matt Chapman when they’re not in a shift.

Chapman and his fellow Gold Glover, Matt Olson, have played well this spring, and hopes are high that their 2020 fall-offs are a thing of the past. Another familiar face sporting the home whites was ex-Giant reliever Sergio Romo. The Athletics announced this morning that it had two promising pitchers, A.J. Puk and Daulton Jefferies, to the alternate site in Stockton and had placed to more pitchers, Mike Fiers and Trevor Rosenthal, who was expected to be the new closer, on the ten-day injured list, Fiers retroactively to March 29. Lefty hurler and one time Astro Reymin Guduan was promoted from Las Vegas to take up the slack. And, finally, the marvelously monikered Skye Bolt was DFA’d.

The closest thing to a threat that either team could muster in the first three innings came with two down in the home third when Andrus, batting ninth, lashed a rule book double over the low fence in left center field for Oakland’s first hit of the game and his first as an Athletic. He advanced to third on a wild pitch to Mark Canha and was standed when the A’s lead-off batter wiffed on a 73 mph curve ball.

The Astros immediately made Oakland regret its failure to seize the opporitunity. José Altuve opened the top of the fourth with a walk and advanced to third on Michael Brantley’s line drive double to right. Alex Bregman’s ground out to Chapman brought Altuve home with the game’s first tally.

A dramatic leaping catch of Kyle Tucker’s fly to right center by Chad Pinder saved a run and maybe more but didn’t prevent Altuve from moving over to third. The crowd cheered when Bassett plunked Carlos Correa with a 94 mph four seamer.

It cheered almost as much when Jordán Alvarez flew out to left to end the innning. One inning later, Pinder made another spectacular grab, robbing Altuve of an opposite field extra base hit with a horizontal flying catch of a a liner heading for the right field foul line.

With one out in the top of the sixth, Bregman hit a liner between Canha in left and Laureano in center, The speedy Laureano got to the ball, but it bounced off the heel of his glove for a double. After yielding a walk to Tucker, the A´s starter yielded the mound to Yusmeiro Petit, who got Correa out on a pop foul to catcher Sean Murphy but allowed both inherited runs to score on DH Jordán Alvarez´s two bagger to left.

Bassett left the game after throwing 68 pitches, 46 of them strikes, over 5-1/3 innings. He gave up four hits and was charged with all three Houston runs, and all of them were earned. He walked two, struck out three, and hit one batter. Petit threw 11 pitches, with five strikes. Lou Trevino replaced him after his two thirds of an inning stint.

Dusty Baker removed Greinke after six innings of work. His line was impressive, three hits, four strike outs, and a wild pitch. The rest, zeroes.

His replacement, Eoli Paredes, didn’t fare as well. Laureano led off the home seventh with a foul behind first base that Yuli Gourriel let drop for an at bat extending error. The A’s centerfielder took advantage of the miscue to blast a double to left, steal third, and score on Chapman’s sac fly to left. It took him 32 pitches to get out of the frame with only one, unearned, run charged to him.

Adam Kolarek was an off-season acquisition from the Dodgers. He took over for Trevino to start the eighth and promptly surrendered a home run to Brantley and then another to Bregman. A ground out, a walk, and a hit batter later, Kolarek was gone, giving way to J.B. Wendelkin, who stauched the flow.

The newly promoted Reymin Gudjuan suffered the indignity of pitching to Houston in its last half inning at the plate. Two of the three outs he achieved were sacrifice flies, which tells you something about his effectiveness. He gave up singles to Altuve and Correa, walks to Brantley and Bregman, and threw a wild pitch to Alvarez before he hit one of the sac flies. The win went to Greinke; the loss, to Bassett.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: 2021 Opening Day Hangover from Covid

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The Oakland A’s Matt Chapman running the bases in this spring training photo on Feb 22, 2021. Played only 37 out of 60 regular season games last year. Is looking to play the full season this year. (AP News photo)

2021 Opening Day: Hangover from Covid

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The hangover from covid could be coming to an end this next Thursday on April 1. Opening Day. Hangovers typically go away within 24 hours, but 24 hours can feel like an eternity. The last 12 plus months have been an eternity in our lives, but baseball is coming to the rescue, and this hangover is just about done. Baseball is like the proverbial bowl of Menudo, that many believe is the best “cure” for a hangover.

April 1, 2021, will mark the first time since 1968 that all major league teams open their season (all 30) on the same day. Last year was a 60-game sprint this year should be the regular 162-game marathon, one thing that makes baseball unique among all major sports.

This is how I see the American League West this year (how they will finish):

1- Oakland Athletics: Although they lost some key pieces this off-season like Marcus Semien (Jays) Liam Hendricks (White Sox) Tommy LaStella (Giants) Robbie Grossman (Tigers) Joaquim Soria (Arizona) Khris Davis (Texas) and pitcher Mike Minor to Kansas City, they still hungry after elimination by the Houston Astros in the AL Division Series.

The A’s on their division without their star third-baseman Matt Chapman who played part time in 37 of the 60 game-season. Their pitching rotation still young, specially their starters, with real breakout potential, Jesús Luzardo, Chris Bassitt, Sean Manaea and Frankie Montás, and A.J Puk, Puk’s gone through Tommy John and shoulder surgeries in the last four years, but had a terrific Spring Training.

Mike Fiers could give them more experience on the mound, but he will begin season on the Injured List with left hip inflammation. Towards the end of the off season they did picked-up veteran shortstop Elvis Andrus from Texas, together with catcher Aramis García (who played for the Giants in 2020) he is the #2 catcher behind regular Sean Murphy.

Revamped their bullpen early in the post season with left handed pitcher Nik Turley from the Pirates, veteran reliever Sergio Romo (Twins) and closer Trevor Rosenthal who pitched for the Padres last season, to a one year deal for $11 million, plus lefty Adam Kolarek from the Dodgers, while retaining Jake Diekman, Yusmeiro Petit and Lou Trivino.

To replace the vacant DH position for Khris Davis, the A’s acquired veteran first-baseman and DH Mitch Moreland. Jed Lowrie is back and he could be alternating at second base with Tony Kemp or ‘all around’ utility extraordinaire Chad Pinder. Ramón Laureano, Elvis Andrus, Matt Chapman, Matt Olson, Jed Lowrie, Stephen Piscotty, Mark Canha, young-talented catcher Sean Murphy, they should have enough offense.

A new name in town, will be 26 year-old outfielder Ka’ai Tom, born in Honolulu, Hawaii, who made the team during last week of Spring Training. Why the A’s did not keep their home-born favorite player Marcus Semien, who signed for 1-year in Toronto for $18 million, I still do not understand. Bob Melvin is one of the best managers in the game and in my opinion very underrated.

2- Los Angeles Angels: Finished ten games behind the Athletics and in fourth place. They have one of the best one-two punches of any line-up in baseball with Mike Trout (the best player in baseball) and Anthony Rendón. And a supporting cast of future Hall of Famers: Albert Pujols (his last year of his 10-year contract) Justin Upton, David Fletcher, plus two veterans acquired this winter slick-fielding shortstop José Iglesias and outfielder Dexter Fowler, who is an insurance policy for the club, while young Jo Adell will begin the season in their minor leagues.

After a breakout rookie year, young Jared Walsh is expected to be their first baseman, most of the time over veteran Albert Pujols. The pitching still a big question mark . They were mentioned as the favorite destination for right-hander Trevor Bauer, the NL Cy Young Award winner last season, but he decided to go a few miles up north on Hwy 5 and signed with the LA Dodgers.

The Angels rotation with Shohei Ohtani (who will also be a DH) Andrew Heaney, Dylan Bundy, Griffin Canning, Alex Cobb and new acquisition José Quintana. Any combination of those six should be their starting rotation. José Quintana was an interesting acquisition, he was starting pitcher for the Cubs but suffered a thumb injury on his left hand while washing dishes at his Miami home and only pitched in five games for the Cubs, starting only one game, he has good stuff and could be a key factor for the Halos.

Weakness is depth of starting pitching. Their offense should be formidable, led by Mike Trout. If anybody could surprise here and challenge the A’s, is this team, with their great manager Joe Maddon. They finished in fourth place a third place finish is a conservative pick.

However, if their pitching performs well, they could rival the Athletics for the division title. I think the Angels are the most interesting team in this division. Mike Trout has only made it to one playoff since 2014. For a while I pondered about where they will end the season. Pick’ em for second place.

3- Houston Astros: The Astros would had continued to be the Athletics biggest foe, until they lost Frember Valdéz to a Spring Training injury and subsequent surgery, he will miss most of this season. Pitching star and Número Uno starter Justin Verlander underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery on Sept. 30, 2020, and he is doubtful to pitch during the 2021 season.

Verlander is a two-time Cy Young winner and future member of the Hall of Fame. Everyday he is not pitching, it would represent a big advantage to the Athletics, not to mention the other teams in the West. The starting rotation; Zack Greinke (who was their best pitcher last season) and will open the season for the club, Lance McCullers Jr, José Urquidy, Cristian Javier, who finished third in the running for Rookie of the Year in 2020.

Their bullpen is not their best department, although they picked up veteran reliever Pedro Báez who was with the Dodgers since 2014. Their offense still excellent. Even without George Springer, who signed a 6 year $150 million contract with Toronto, the Astros still have one of the best lineups, with José Altuve, Alex Bregman, Carlos Correa, Michael Brantley, Yuli Guriel, Josh Reddick, Kyle Tucker and the return of their young slugger and Designated Hitter Jordan Alvarez (23) whose knee is healthy, he is the key in this powerful lineup, if he stays healthy, watch out.

The Astros escaped the wrath of the fans in 2020, with no fans allowed, after their sign-stealing scandal the previous season. Ironically, the covid pandemic helped the Astros in that regard. But, it is not like this happened 20 years ago, so it would be interesting to see the fans reaction during this season.

They are still a very good team, now with 38-year old Opening Night starter Zack Greinke, but the Astros will begin the season with a wounded rotation. Dusty Baker back at the helm trying to go deeper in the post season, as they were eliminated after they took the Atléticos in the Divisional Series.

Dusty with 1,892 wins is #15 in the old-time manager’s winning list and second among active managers to Tony LaRussa, back with the White Sox as manager, Tony is #3 all time manager with 2,728 wins.

The last team the A’s played last season, Houston, will be the first they play this year. Third place is the place for the kids from the “Space Center”. But do not bet on it.

4-Seattle Mariners: Center fielder Kyle Lewis won the AL Rookie of the Year getting all 30 votes. The Mariners could use a few more like Lewis in their lineup. Their veteran third baseman Kyle Seager led the club with 40 RBIs. Their No.5 prospect Taylor Trammell could open the season as their rookie left-fielder.

Just days before Spring Training veteran lefty James Paxton came back after pitching for the Yankees last year to join the team he had played who drafted him in 2010 and played for since 2013. Paxton is now part of their pitching rotation headed last season by lefty veteran Marco González with a 7-2 and 3.10 ERA in 11 games started, Yusei Jikuchi, Justus Sheffield, Justin Dunn.

There is no Mariano Rivera in the Seattle bullpen, but there is nobody remotely close to a Mariano Rivera anyway. They are not better than the A’s, Astros or Angels, so they should probably dock their ship in fourth place. Any finish above sea level for these Mariners should be a big improvement.

Last year they finished in third place with 27-33, actually not that bad. Seattle is a great city, with great regional fans, they come from hundreds of miles north, south, east and west, even from another country, Canada, to one of the best baseball facilities in MLB, Safeco Field. They remain the only team in this division never to have made it to a World Series, since their first season in 1977. They are definitely not going to a World Series this year.

5-Texas Rangers: They built a new park last season, Globe Life Field, a $1.1 billion retractable Texas palace (that is the value of the Oakland A’s franchise today) The Rangers still have not played a regular season game at their new digs.

The 2020 World Series was played there last year, and their first home game is scheduled for April 5, against the Toronto Blue Jays. That will be the first time they will play at their palatial new ballpark. Nobody would envy the job of manager Chris Woodward with these Texas Rangers.

They lost two of their star regular players in Elvis Andrus (A’s) and Nomar Mazara (Tigers). Rougned Odor had a tough season, hit .167 in 38 games, still hit ten home runs and drove-in 28 runs. They still have Joey Gallo (who every year is mentioned as possible bait for a big trade) Still have Isah Kiner-Falefa, and newcomers, Khris Davis, Nate Lowe and David Dahl.

Starters in their rotation; Kyle Gibson, Mike Foltynewicz, Dane Dunning, and Kohei Arihara. Best they can hope is a fourth place finish same as last season when they ended with 22-38, 14 games behind the division champion Athletics. I think the Mariners will push for the cellar.

One of my old friends favorite saying was “the more things change, the more they stay the same”, they finished last in 2020 and should do same this year. Biggest positive for their fans in 2021, their new ballpark was to be inaugurated in 2020, but covid-19 derailed that possibility, but not this year.

Texas was first State in the country lo lift their lock-down restrictions and this team was first in MLB to announce they will sell all 40,000 seat plus for their first game of the season at home. Good Luck to the Rangers, they are going to need it.

Notes: The Oakland Athletics will open their 53rd season at Oakland this Thursday during a 7-game home stand, when they host the Houston Astros in the first of four games to be followed with three games against the World Champions Los Angeles Dodgers.

Opening Night: Bob Melvin will send Chris Bassitt to the mound, while Dusty Baker inked his veteran Zack Greinke to open the season. In case you are counting. It has been 32 years since the last time the Athletics won a World Series, when they swept the San Francisco Giants in the famous “Earthquake World Series” in 1989.

First pitch 7:07 960AM-A’s Cast—(Spanish) KIQI 1010/KATD 990AM Bay Area and Sacramento/Stockton — TV- NBCSCA

Did You Know? Charlie O Finley owner of the Oakland Athletics said he chose ‘green and gold’ for the uniforms in honor of his favorite college football team Notre Dame.

Stay well and stay tuned.

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

World Series 2020 podcast with Michael Duca: Rays Arozarena has been key all post season long

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The Tampa Rays Randy Arozarena is part of the celebration after the game 7 victory against the Houston Astros at Petco Park in San Diego on Sat Oct 17, 2020 as the Rays move onto the 2020 World Series (photo from golf.com)

On the World Series podcast with Michael:

#1 The Tampa Bay Rays Randy Arozarena played so well in post season that he was key in the Rays victory in game 7 of the ALCS victory over the Houston Astros on Saturday night.

#2 Rays manager Kevin Cash said Arozarena with a bat in his hands and a home run opportunity he settles a lot of people in the dugout.

#3 Arozarena said after Saturday’s game he wasn’t trying to win the MVP but was doing anything to help the team win.

#4 Cash said the last three games were agonizing with a one run loss in games 4 and 5 and a three run loss in game 6 that tied the series it was a relief to win game 7 and a two run 4-2 win.

#5 Turning to some San Francisco Giants news the team announced on Friday they would layoff 10% of their 500 full time employees which amounts to 50 full time employees. You know some of those full time employees personally how will this furlough impact the lives of some of these Giant employees.

Michael Duca does analysis for MLB and San Francisco Giants for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB The Show Post Season podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Rays and Yankees fought this one out right to the end; Dodgers say Astros crying victim

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The Tampa Bay Rays celebrate their win in game 5 of the ALDS over the New York Yankees on Fri Oct 9th at Petco Park in San Diego to advance to the ALCS against the Houston Astros (photo from yahoo.sports.com)

On the MLB The Show podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 Jeremiah the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays were tied up in the series on Friday night at two games a piece and both teams fought for the last rites to get into the AL Championship at all costs necessary with the Rays just beating the Yankees out to get to the AL Championship winning 2-1 on Friday night.

#2 The Yankees Aaron Judge hit another home run against the Rays on Friday night he was very key for the Yanks throughout the playoffs for Judge that doesn’t matter very much to him.

#3 The Yankees also honored former Yankee pitching great Whitey Ford who pitched for the Yankees in the 50s and early 60s and had a career record of 236-106 with an ERA of 2.75 passed away at 91 on Friday night. Ford also had his number retired by the Yankees.

#4 The Los Angeles Dodgers say the Houston Astros are playing the victim in light of being accused of being cheaters and that fans, media and others teams are picking on them. Is this all part of the bad blood between the two teams or the Dodgers are right the Astros are playing victim.

#5 The Dodgers have won the NLDS and are headed to the Championship game against the Atlanta Braves and are the favorites to get to the World Series if they do match up against the Houston Astros how ugly could this series be or will they just battle by playing this one out?

Join Jeremiah each Saturday for the MLB The Show Post Season podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Dusty Baker the best Happening for the Astros

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The Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker (12) heads out to pay a visit to the mound in a Sep 27th, 2020 game against the Texas Rangers at Globelife Park in Arlington (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Dusty Baker as manager of the Houston Astros was the calm after the storm and surely the best thing that could have happened to a team that was reeling from an infamous sign-stealing scandal.

The Astros who just eliminated the Oakland Athletics in the AL Divisional Series taking three of the four games at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles are a happy bunch going into the AL Championship Series, and four (4) more wins away from a consecutive trip to the World Series, as they lost the October Classic last year in seven (7) exciting games to the Washington Nationals.

Dusty Baker’s team has gotten this far without their #1 starter Justin Verlander a Cy-Young-type of pitcher who had Tommy John surgery and will not be back for at least another year. Dusty who is the ultimate players-manager, and who sometimes still feels like he is playing is the type of man at the helm the Houston organization badly needed.

Before the beat the A’s in the divisional series, they swept the powerful Minnesota Twins. The Astros escaped the booing by fans all over the country, since there were no fans allowed this 2020 season, and they are one of the most experienced bunch of players advancing to the ALCS. At the time of this article they will face either the New York Yankees or the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Astros are filled with great Latino talent, such established stars like; José Altuve, Carlos Correa, Yuliesky Gurriel, Martin Maldonado, Aledmys Díaz, newcomers Framber Valdés, Elodi Paredes, José Urquidy. During some games they wear a T-Shirt (under the jerseys) that read, Somos Astros, translated We’re Astros. Dusty understands enough Spanish to hold an interview or conversation and he seemed to have bonded with this team.

With 23 years as a manager and his whole life as a baseball man, once a very good baseball player with a 19-year resumé that traveled through Atlanta Braves, LA Dodgers and last two years here in the Bay Area with SF Giants and then with the Athletics his last team in 1985, he is the winning-est major league active manager as of today.

Dusty’s Houston Astros are playing well and with a mission to go back to the World Series again. The Oakland A’s had a good run, won their division, took care of the young Chicago White Sox, but they ran into a much more post-season experienced team with one of the best line-ups in the game.

Not an excuse, but the A’s lost to injury/surgery their best player, third-baseman Matt Chapman for the last part of the season and the duration of the seven (7) games they participated in the playoffs.

Wishing Dusty all the luck in the world, the rest of the playoffs. Hey Dusty, you should have a special mask with a small hole for your toothpick!

Stay well and stay tuned.

Astros romp A’s 11-6 win to end Oakland’s season

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The Oakland A’s Matt Olson heads back to the Oakland dugout after striking out against the Houston Astros in the eighth inning as catcher Martin Maldonado sets up for the next hitter in game 4 of the 2020 ALDS at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Houston Astros ended the Oakland A’s season as they pounded the A’s pitchers to win 11-6. The Astros advance to the American League Championship series. The Astros, probably the most hated team in baseball due to the sign-stealing cheating scandal, wanted to prove that they are a top-tier team.

The Astros will be playing in the championship series for the fourth year in a row. They won the World Series in 2017 and lost the Series last year to the Washington Nationals. The Astros had a tumultuous year. They fired their General Manager, Jeff Luhnow, and their field manager, A.J. Hinch.

They hired Dusty Baker to help gain the team a modicum of respectability. Dusty became the first manager in baseball history to lead five teams into the postseason.

A’s manager, Bob Melvin, selected righty Frankie Montas to start for the Green and Gold. Montas did well for the first three innings. He allowed just three hits. The A’s offense put three runs on the board in the second inning. Former Astro, Ramon Laureano, who was five-for-nine lifetime against Zack Greinke, homered with two men on to give Oakland an early lead.

Things went south for Montas in the bottom of the fourth. Jose Altuve, leading off for Houston, walked. DH Michael Brantley homered into the right-field seats to make it 3-2. Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker singled that put two men on with no out. Montas retired Yuli Guriel for the first out. Guriel was the last batter Montas would face.

The A’s inched closer when Laureano homered off Zack Greinke for the second time to make it 5-4 midway through the fifth.

The Astros onslaught continued in the bottom of the fifth. J.B.Wendelken was now pitching for Oakland. Michael Brantley, who homered in the fourth, took Wendelken deep leading off the fifth.

The pitch was up in the strike zone, and Brantley did not miss it. The Astros scored again when Bregman walked. Tucker singled, sending Bregman to third. Correa singled to drive in Bregman with Houston’s seventh run.

The Astros added two more in the sixth and two more in the seventh to take an 11-4 lead. Jose Altuve’s two-run homer sealed Oakland’s fate.

The A’s didn’t quit. They threatened in the eighth. They put two men on with two out. The threat ended when Marcus Semien’s blast to leftfield was caught at the wall for the third out. They scored two in the ninth, but it was too little, too late. The Astros win 11-6

Game Notes- The line score for Houston was 11-14-0

Oakland’s line was 6-11-1

None of the A’s starters managed to finish five innings of work. The A’s had two more home runs Thursday. They had 12 for the four games played.

The A’s are done for the 2020 season. They made the playoffs for the third year in a row. They were able to advance to the ALDS for the first time since the 2013 season. It was not a happy ending. The A’s will be back next season. One of the concerns will be signing Marcus Semien to a new contract. Semien is now a free agent.

Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria: Orange smokey skies for Bay Area baseball; Fans fear Covid spread NFL ticket sales down; plus more

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View of Oakland Coliseum during Houston Astros and Oakland A’s Wednesday night during batting practice as a smokey orange sky from the California fires hangs over the park (photo from @MLByahoosports)

Headline Sports podcast with Tony R

#1 Washington, Oregon and California fires have made California the worst air quality in the nation. With California’s huge sports teams college and pro and with a the nation’s largest pandemic combined how long will it be safe to continue sports in California?

#2 Both Bay Area teams played Wednesday under orange smokey skies the Houston Astros and Oakland A’s at the Oakland Coliseum in the fourth of their five game series and the Seattle Mariners at San Francisco Giants for a Wednesday night game.

#3 The Super Bowl Champion Kansas Chiefs have said that their ticket sales for their opener have been down due to fears of the pandemic and too many fans gathering in one place will tickets sales also be down in other NFL cities?

#4 This is opening week for the San Francisco 49ers who are hosting the Arizona Cardinals at Levis Stadium in Santa Clara. During camp 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garopplo and the offense were missing some plays and a number of ball were intercepted in practice. That said how do you see the 49ers heading into this first game with Arizona?

#5 The Las Vegas Raiders are in Carolina to face the Panthers in the Raiders very first game representing Las Vegas. The Panthers have only two injuries guard Dennis Daley will be out of Sunday’s game with an ankle injury and Eli Apple with a hamstring.

#6 Also Raiders quarterback Marcus Mariota is out with pectoral strain, Raider head coach Jon Gruden said that Mariota was not damaged goods when the Raiders signed him.

Tony Renteria does Headline Sports every other Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com