Tag: Los Angeles Angels

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Manaea looking for win #4 starts against Angels at Oakland Coliseum tonight

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Oakland A’s starter Sean Manaea throws against the Tampa Bay Rays line up in the fifth inning on Fri May 7, 2021 at the Oakland Coliseum. Manaea will start tonight against the Los Angeles Angels at the Oakland Coliseum in game 2 of the four game series (AP News file photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 It’s not often you get to see a pitcher go the distance but the Oakland A’s (30-22) starter Chris Bassitt went wire to wire on Thursday night to throw a two hit 5-0 shutout against the Los Angeles Angels (22-28) at the Oakland Coliseum.

#2 Jeremiah, Bassitt had all his pitches working for him and you have to in order to get a shutout

#3 Bassitt also struck out nine batters and walked only one batter and that right there tells you he kept the Angels off balance at the plate.

#4 It was a 0-0 game for most of the way until the last of the sixth inning when the A’s scored five runs all the runs they needed to win the ball game.

#5 Taking a look at the starters for tonight’s game at the Coliseum for the Angels Shohei Ohtani (1-0 ERA 2.37) and for the A’s Sean Manaea (3-2 ERA 4.17) talk about this match up.

Join Jeremiah for the A’s podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s Bassitt goes the distance to shutout Angels 5-0

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The Oakland A’s starting pitcher Chris Bassitt throws to the Los Angeles Angels line up in the first inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Thu May 27, 2021 (AP News photo)

Los Angeles (AL) 0 – 2 – 1

Oakland 5 – 10 – 0

By Lewis Rubman

Thu May 27, 2021

OAKLAND–This afternoon, the A’s announced the return from the Injured List of Mitch Moreland and the concomitant return to Las Vegas of Luis Barrera, who had a demi tasse of espresso with the club while Moreland was recuperating. Moreland’s BA in the 31 games he played before his injury.

More significant was his five game hitting streak, in which he went 6 for 18. was .237 with four home runs and 15 RBI. Moreland had hit safely in each of his last five contests (6-for-18, .333). His return gives Oakland a powerful left handed designated hitter and an experienced back up first baseman for Matt Olson, allowing the team to take greater advantage of the Chad Pinder, Mark Canha, and Jed Lowrie’s versatility.

The front office also announced the opening of the Coliseum to full capacity and the end of the ban on out of state customers, starting June 29. You can get tickets and information at athletics.com/tickets. Tickets also will be on sale game days at the Coliseum Box Office on game days.

Both of those announcements were good news. They also were expected. What was not expected was that Shoei Ohtani, who had been scheduled to be tonight’s starting pitcher for Los Angeles would arrive at the ball park too late to perform his warm up routine.

As a result, he was scratched as starting pitcher. This was not just disappointing; it also was somewhat ironic because tonight was Asian American Pacific Islanders Night. Instead of pitching, Ohtani became the Angels’ designated hitter, going 0 for 3. Southpaw Patrick Sandoval (0-1, 4.96) got the nod as the visitors’ emergency starter.

The Oakland A’s got a complete game out of starter Chris Bassitt for a 5-0 shutout over the Los Angeles Angels. Neither Sandoval nor Chris Bassitt (4-2, 3.69), who took to the mound for the A’s, is as glamorous Ohtani. Sandoval gave an excellent account of himself, throwing five innings of shutout ball, in which he allowed five hits and two walks while striking out four. He threw 84 pitches, 50 for strikes, before being replaced by Aaron Slegers at the start of the Oakland sixth.

Bassett is a good, solid hurler. He got off to a slow start this season, but in his last eight starts before toeing the rubber tonight he went 4-0, with a respectable ERA of 3.26 and an opponents’ BA of .213. In half of the four no decisions of that eight game skein, he left with a lead that the Oakland bull pen couldn’t hold.

The first two and a half innings passed uneventfully, with the rivals trading zeroes. After three, they still were exchanging goose eggs, but the A’s had mounted a serious threat, loading the bases with one out on a pair of singles to right by Stephen Piscotty and Canha. But Laureano hit into an around the horn double play to squelch the incipient breakthrough.

Sandoval’s departure after five frames opened the flood gates for Oakland. After Sleger’s strike out of Laureano, Olson doubled into the left field corner. Lowrie walked. Chapman hit a grounder to deep short that Fletcher fielded and threw to third, hoping to get the force on Olson. But the threw the ball away, allowing Olson to score and Chapman to reach second on the throwing error. Murphy’s single to center drove in Lowrie and Chapman.

That was it for Slegger. Seth Brown hit for Piscotty just before Slegger was removed, replaced by Alex Claudio, who walked Brown, advancing Murphy to second. Canha loaded the bases with a single to right, the two runners moving up a base a piece.

That ended the short, unhappy stint of Slegger. Junior Guerra came in, and Tony Kemp pinch hit for Pinder. Kemp’s sacrifice fly to center brought in Brown with the A’s fifth run, all of them earned, four charged against Slegers, who would be the losing pitcher, and one to Claudio’s account. Junior Guerra finished off the inning by getting Laureano whose strike out had led it off. That was the only frame in which either team score. Guerra held the Athletics scoreless and hitlesss. the rest of the way.

Bassett got the win, and it was a beauty. It was hit first career complete game and, after an infield single to Juan Lagares ln the second frame, he didn’t allow any hits until Justin Upton doubled with one down in the ninth. The only other batter he allowed to reach base safely was his would have been mound antagonist, Ohtani, who walked in the fourth. Bassett threw 114 pitches, 70 for strikes.

Tomorrow — or, if you’re reading this after midnight, Friday, May 28 — the A’s will entrust their fortunes to southpaw Sean Manaea (3-2, 4.17) against in a game scheduled to start at 6:40. It’s probable his opposing number will be Ohtani (1-0, 2.37), but you never can tell …

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s open up four game series against Ohtani and Angels tonight

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The Los Angeles Angels starter Shohei Ohtani shown here throwing against Cleveland on Wed May 19, 2021 will start tonight against the Oakland A’s at the Oakland Coliseum (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 The performance of Oakland A’s (29-22) starter James Kaprielian going seven innings of shutout ball against the Seattle Mariners (23-27) in a 6-3 win for the A’s.

#2 Kaprielian over the seven innings he pitched gave up only two hits and had all his pitches working for him.

#3 The Seattle Mariners as a team have been struggling at the plate and have been no hit twice this season thus far.

#4 Jerry, talk about the A’s next opponent the Los Angeles Angels (22-27) are coming to the Coliseum on Thursday night for four games. For a team that is five games below .500 and have struggled you can never count the Angels out.

#5 The Angels for game one of the series will start their ace Shohei Ohtani (1-0 ERA 2.37) who fast ball was clocked five MPH less than normal against Cleveland but held Cleveland to two runs over 4.2 innings. Ohtani will be matched up against the Oakland A’s starter Chris Bassitt (4-2 ERA 3.69)

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

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: A’s open three game series against Seattle tonight

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The Los Angeles Angels share congratulations after their come back win against the Oakland A’s at Angels Stadium in Anaheim on Sun May 24, 2021 (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Barbara:

#1 The Oakland A’s (28-20) opened up their final game with the Los Angeles Angels (20-27) the A’s Matt Olson and Seth Brown both hit home runs scoring three runs in the top of the second and a run in the third to grab an early 4-0 lead.

#2 Down 4-2 the Angels came back scoring three runs in the bottom of the seventh Shohei Otani hit a sac fly to right to score Upton to tie the game. Iglesias got a base hit to score Rojas to take the lead 5-4 for the Angels.

#3 The A’s were able to tie the game for a last chance at the brass ring in the top of the eighth making as Sean Murphy got on on an infield single that scored Olson on a throwing error 5-5

#4 The Angels got a go ahead run in the bottom of the eighth when Upton hit a sac fly to left as Ward tagged up and scored which turned out to be the game winner for a 6-5 win.

#5 It’s back to the Oakland Coliseum as the Seattle Mariners will pay a visit and start pitcher Yusei Kikuchi (1-3 ERA 4.32) and the A’s will go with Frankie Montas (5-3 ERA 4.79) a 6:40 pm PDT first pitch.

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

A’s top Angels 6-2; Bassitt pitches seven plus for the win

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Oakland A’s starter Chris Bassitt throws against the Los Angeles Angels line up in the first inning on his way to a win at Angels Stadium on Sat May 22, 2021 (AP News photo)

A’s Top Angels In Game Two

By Barbara Mason

Friday night the Oakland A’s (28-19) beat the Los Angeles Angels (19-27) 8-4 at Anaheim 8-4. After two back to back losses to the Houston Astros, the A’s showed some definite signs of getting back on track with their first win against the Angels. Game Two on Saturday would be the deciding factor.

Were they really back to the play that kept them in first place in their division for weeks? Yes they were as A’s starter Chris Bassitt threw seven plus innings and held the Angels to only two runs in the 6-2 victory at Angels Stadium in Anaheim.

The Angels despite their recent struggles are still a very good ball club. A second win for the A’s would be a very promising sign that this team is back to their winning ways.

Chris Bassitt was on the mound for Oakland and Patrick Sandoval opened for the Angels. The A’s would rebound.

The A’s first inning was a good one. Mark Canha hit a triple and he scored when Matt Chapman hit a sacrifice fly. Oakland had an early 1-0 lead. Canha had a double in the third inning and would score to extend Oakland’s lead to 2-0.

Then the green and gold homeruns came to life. Matt Olson had one in the sixth inning and Aramis Garcia had a second homerun in the seventh inning for a 4-0 A’s lead. Oakland’s Seth Brown would add a third homer with Tony Kemp on base and the A’s now led 6-0. So far in this series the A’s had seven home runs and seven doubles.

It sure looked like Oakland was cruising to their second win in this series. After seven innings Chris Bassitt was still on the mound. He already had six strikeouts and continued to throw hard in the eighth inning with an 85 pitch count. He was having a great outing.

The Angels got on the board in the eighth inning when Lagares and Iglesias scored trailing Oakland 6-2. After Ohtani hit a triple Chris Bassitt left the game. There were two outs when Petit came into the game and it would be up to him to get that third out. That third out was realized in quick order and this game would go into the ninth inning,

Diekman would come in to save this game. It would be a three up, three down and into the clubhouse for Oakland to celebrate their second win in the series. Tomorrow the A’s will go for the sweep. With the Astros and the Mariners both losing the A’s were taking advantage of the inter division schedule.

Sunday the A’s will start Sean Manea (3-2 ERA 4.41) and starting for the Angels Dylan Bundy (0-5 ERA 6.02) will be on the mound for Game Three. First pitch is at 1:07 PM.

A’s Break Two Game Losing Streak Beating Angels 8-4

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The Oakland A’s Chad Pinder (4) holds onto the ball after rolling over to hold onto the baseball after Los Angeles Angels Jose Igelesias (4) hit a fly ball on Fri May 21, 2021 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim (AP News photo)

A’s Break Two Game Losing Streak Beating the Angels

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s have gotten off track in their past few games. They dropped two in a row to the Houston Astros falling into second place in their division. They are now a half a game behind Houston after holding down first place for weeks.

The team is now struggling with leaving runners stranded on base. This has haunted them here and there throughout the season. They seemed to have turned it around and then it surfaced again in the Astro series. The A’s hope to leave the memory of the Houston Astros all behind them as they opened a three game series against the Los Angeles Angels with a 8-4 win.

Friday night the A’s began a three game series with the Angels who have trouble of their own with the loss of Mike Trout to injury. Kaprieliian was on the mound for Oakland and for the Angels, Quintana got the nod.

Mark Canha would give the A’s a brief lead in the third inning with his ninth home run of the year but the Angels would answer in the same inning. Jose Iglesias homered to tie up the game 1-1. Again the A’s had left runners on base through the first four innings.

In the top of the sixth inning the A’s got something going. Laureano doubled and Pinder singled. A double by Sean Murphy would drive in Laureano and Pinder. Oakland now led 3-1 going into the bottom of the sixth inning. The Angels Jared Walsh would make things very interesting when he homered cutting the A’s lead to 3-2. With two outs Yusmeiro Petit would take over on the mound.

It was a tough inning for Petit allowing hits by Ward, Rojas and a triple by Lagares. Ward and Rojas would both score giving the Angels their first lead of the game 4-3.

In the seventh inning the A’s had a chance to tie up the game but Mark Canha was thrown out at home, the second time for the A’s in this game. Matt Olson was also thrown out at home in the third inning. With two outs in the seventh Chad Pinder would knock the ball out of the park to give the A’s the lead back 6-4. It was time for another pitching change for Anaheim.

Anthony Rendon very nearly tied up the game but Ramon Laureano stole a probable home run hit deep in center field. Laureano leaped up to snag the ball and save the lead for the A’s. We have seen this same play time and time again from the center fielder.

Laureano who was 3 for 3 in this game came to the plate in the top of the ninth inning. He went 4 for 4 hitting a home run extending the A’s lead to 7-4. Oakland was not finished. Jed Lowry hit a homerun and the A’s led 8-4. It was Lowry’s fourth homer of the year.

Lou Trivino was the closer in the bottom of the ninth. The game would end on a very nice defensive play. A double play would hand the A’s the win.

It was a great win and coupled with the Astros and Mariners losing it was good news all-around for Oakland. The A’s and Angels will tangle tomorrow in Game Two. First pitch is at 7:07.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Astros were just a little better; Took two of three from Oakland

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The Houston Astros Jose Altuve returns to the dugout after scoring against the Oakland A’s in the seventh inning on Thu May 20, 2021 at the Oakland Coliseum (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 The Oakland A’s (26-19) dropped their seventh game to the Houston Astros (26-18) for the season the A’s have defeated the Astros three times.

#2 With the win 8-4 on Thursday afternoon the Astros move a half game up on the A’s in the AL Western Division. The loss also marked the first time in 30 days that the A’s are no longer in first place. The A’s have been playing .500 ball winning five of their last ten games.

#3 The Astros Jose Altuve and Martin Maldonado both provided runs for the Astros Thursday afternoon for Houston there’s a different star everyday but someone is going to out pitch or hit a big fly on this team to beat their opponents.

#4 The A’s open a three game series against Joe Maddon and the Los Angeles Angels (19-24) on Friday night. The A’s will be starting James Kaprielian (1-0 ERA 1.80) and for the Angels Jose Quintana (0-3 ERA 8.53). The Angels have lost six of their last ten games.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: The Angels dismissal of Albert Pujols

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The Los Angeles Angels Mike Trout (right) says it hit him a lot when he found out that Albert Pujols (left) was released for assignment by the Angels and some veteran players felt it wasn’t right what happened to Pujols (photo from the New York Post)

The Angels Dismissal of Alberto Pujols

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Last week the Los Angeles Angels designated for assignment/released the future Hall of Fame player (maybe unanimously) Albert Pujols. Logically, anybody that is following the Angels knows that with Japanese two-way superstar Shohei Othani, when he doesn’t starts a game on the mound, he is the team’s Designated Hitter and the resurgence of young first baseman Jared Walsh who is hitting over .300 with enough power to hit 30 or more home-runs this year, Pujols was not getting the playing time and at bats he wanted. That is a given.

However, to designate for assignment a player of Albert Pujols caliber, on the last year of his ten-year contract at the beginning of the month of May is not something you see every day and the team made the decision after only 29 games he had participated and them showed him the door.

Management is entitled to make their decision, that is what management in a front office does, but in my book the Angels did not show much grace to a man that played and who represented them very well since he signed ten seasons ago. In retrospect; could the Angels have spoken to him and told him of the possibility that he might be let go, depending how things worked as the season unfolded?

–More on this further down–This is a very emotional decision. The Angels want to win this year, they play in the same market as the World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers who have won eight consecutive Western Division titles in the National League, plus the 2020 World Series and the Angels have not made it to the Postseason since 2014, and counting, with what many still consider the best player in the game, Mike Trout.

This looked (to me) like a decision that should had been made differently. It looked like it was not thought through. The LA Angels probably believe that a man that was hitting under .200 is “done” and they want to contend this year for a division title, so they dumped Albert Pujols so that Shohei Othani and Jared Walsh could handle the DH and 1B position, without interruption.

By the way hitting under .200 for everyday players at this time in baseball history should not be the main factor. If that is the reason. then most teams most release three or four players right away. Albert Pujols is one of the best players of this or any other generation. His ten-year $240 million salary ends this season, but the Angels are still responsible for paying remainder of his $30 million this year.

I called the 600th Home-run of his career one night at Angel Stadium for Fox Sport West (Español). Pujols is as dedicated to his craft as anybody I have seen in this game, Mike Trout (who himself is on his way to a Hall of Fame career) would always look to Pujols for hitting and guidance overall, not to mention many Latino players on the team. Pujols led by example, never a scandal, always on time for practice, always there for the team, always representing the Angels and the game of baseball as good as anybody.

Albert Pujols did not want to retire; he believes he still has something left in the tank. It would be interesting to see if another team would pick up Pujols. Tony LaRussa, back as manager with the White Sox has always been a big fan and friend of the Dominican-born player, when he played in St Louis and LaRussa was his manager, however, the Chicago White Sox are a young team with Yermin Mercedes, who is often a designated hitter and who is having a very nice season. If Albert Pujols gets the opportunity to play again if would be in the American League where he can DH. We can discount the National League.

According to reports five days after his release, Pujols wanted to be released if he could not get enough playing time. Anyway we look at it; it is not a good ending of a story. In reality, we might have seen the last of a Hall of Fame player.

Albert Pujols, 41 years old. three Time National League Most Valuable Player— Rookie of the Year— ten-Time All-Star– two-World Series Titles– two Gold Glove–six-Silver Slugger–Batting Title–National League Championship Series MVP– Among the Top Five players in MLB history in Home-runs 667, Runs-batted-in 2,100, Extra-base hits 1,352.

Stay well and stay tuned.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play announcer for the Oakland Athletics Spanish radio network and on flagship station 1010 KIQI LaGrande San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: A’s and City of Oakland get a Kumbaya on Coliseum property sale

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photo from San Francisco Chronicle: Artists rendition of the Oakland A’s new ball park at Howard Terminal.

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1  How important is it now that the city of Oakland has dropped it’s lawsuit against the Oakland A’s regarding the sale of the Oakland Coliseum property?

#2 Will the dropping of the lawsuit clear the way for the A’s to build at Jack London Square?

#3 The Los Angeles Angels could very well be the next home for pitcher Gerrit Cole. Cole is from Orange County and the Halos are looking to contend in 2020.

#4 Stephen Stasburg could be a New York Yankee. The Angels and Padres have been mentioned in interests for Strasburg. The Nationals are trying to find a way to re-sign Strasburg.

#5 Madison Bumgarner’s name has been floated by the New York Yankees as someone they’d like to sign for the 2020 season. The Yankees consider Bumgarner a fit for their pitching staff.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish radio talent for Oakland A’s radio at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and does News and Commentary each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com