Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O: Commanders shock football world knocking out Lions; SF Giants working on getting Jays Guerrero Jr in 3 player deal; plus more news

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) is on the way with a keeper runs past the Detroit Lions defensive end Levi Onwuzurlike (91) in the second half in the NFC Divisional game at Ford Field in Detroit Sat Jan 18, 2025 (AP News photo)

On Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Charlie O, are the Washington Commanders that underdog, under rated team and going through their post season portfolio, they won their first round of the playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers back on Dec 29th in overtime and advanced to face the Detroit Lions on Saturday night. The Commanders shocked not only the nation’s capital but the country with a shocking 45-31 win over the Super Bowl favored Detroit Lions. With the loss the Lions will not appear in the Super Bowl for 59 seasons.

# 2 The Kansas City Chiefs have never lost a AFC Divisional game and the Houston Texans have never won one. The case was the same on Saturday afternoon at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw to Travis Kelce seven times for 117 yards and and a touchdown as the Chiefs took out the Texans 23-14 to advance to the AFC Championship.

#3 Las Vegas Raiders minority owner Tom Brady is said to be courting Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to be the front runner for the head coaching opening at the Raiders. There is very little doubt that Brady and other NFL teams will be reaching out to Johnson knowing the success he’s had with the Lions offense.

#4 The San Francisco Giants are rumored to be working a three player blockbuster deal to obtain Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for reliever Camilo Doval, infielder/outfielder Marco Luciano, and outfielder James Tibbs III. The Jays have not been able to seal a deal with Guerrero and the Giants are said to be willing to break the bank and spend $333 to $426 million to get Guerrero who might be San Francisco’s ticket to get to the post season.

#5 The Athletics are hoping to develop Japanese 18 year old two way player Shotaro Morii and were able to bypass the Japanese professional league getting Morii for a minor league signing bonus of $1,510,500. Morii will become the sixth A’s Japanese player and the fifth Japanese born player joining Shintaro Fujinami, Hideki Okajima, Hideki Okjima, Akinori Iwamura, Keiichi Yabu, Hideki Matsui and American Born Japanese catcher Kurt Suzuki.

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

San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Hicks nearing career high innings pitched per season; Cobb in bullpen sessions; plus more news

San Francisco Giants pitcher Jordan Hicks (left) is lifted for a reliever by Giants manager Bob Melvin (right) in the top of the fifth inning against the Houston Astros at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Jun 12, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman:

#1 Jordan Hicks is on a pace to exceed his career high of 77 2/3 innings pitched when first broke in the majors in 2018. Hicks who struggled against the Houston Astros on Tuesday night pitched 4 2/3 innings and is at 71 2/3 innings and needs six more innings to go.

#2 On Tuesday RHP Alex Cobb has been throwing in bullpen sessions. Cobb had to come out twice in games due to shoulder irritation. Cobb had been receiving nerve medication and threw a 25 pitch bullpen session which drew a good number of coaches and teammates to watch Cobb’s progress.

#3 Stephen, talk about Marco Luciano’s improvement from his hamstring injury. Luciano was running up the first base line when he injured the hamstring back on May 29th and was placed on the 10 day IL. Talk about how he’s been missed in the starting line up for the Giants.

#4 Nick Ahmed’s return from his left wrist sprain is mid June. Ahmed after getting injured did have a setback on June 1st but has been making progress at Triple A Sacramento. Ahmed came out of May 9th’s loss to the Rockies. Talk about his injury and how he’s needed in the line up.

#5 Giants pitcher Blake Snell whose been snake bitten all season is looking to get back in the rotation with a projection of late June. Snell left on June 3rd in the middle of pitching to a hitter. This is the second time on the IL for Snell this season. The first time he was out with a adductor strain.

Stephen Ruderman covers the San Francisco Giants and podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants shutout by Dodgers 7-0

Photo credit: SF Giants opener John Brebbia pitches against the Dodgers on September 23, 2023. (Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports)

By: Mary Anne

The San Francisco Giants played their third game with the rival Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday night. The Giants were shutout by the Dodgers 7-0 at Dodger Stadium. San Francisco fell to 77-78, while Los Angeles improved to 95-59.

The Giants’ starting lineup featured Austin Slater, Thairo Estrada, J.D. Davis, Wilmer Flores, Mitch Haniger, Marco Luciano, Luis Matos, Tyler Fitzgerald, Patrick Bailey, and John Brebbia. Brebbia (3-2, 3.53 ERA) took the loss after pitching just 1 1/3 innings and giving up one hit, one earned run, one walk, one strikeout, and one home run.

After a scoreless first inning, Los Angeles got on the board in the bottom of the second inning. J.D. Martinez homered on a fly ball to center field for a 1-0 lead.

The Dodgers tacked on two runs in the bottom of the third inning. J.D. Martinez doubled on a line drive to Luis Matos. Mookie Betts and Max Muncy scored to make it a 3-0 game.

The Dodgers added two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Freddie Freeman doubled on a line drive to Luis Matos. Austin Barnes scored to extend the Dodgers’ lead to 4-0 as Mookie Betts went to third base. Max Muncy then singled on a fly ball to Tyler Fitzgerald. Betts scored to expand the Dodgers’ lead to 5-0 as Freeman went to third base.

The Dodgers got two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Mookie Betts doubled on a line drive to Mike Yastrzemski. David Peralta and Austin Barnes scored to widen the Dodgers’ lead to 7-0.

Notes
The Giants recalled Heliot Ramos from Triple-A Sacramento after placing Scott Alexander on the 15-day injured list with a left hamstring strain — retroactive to September 22.

As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, we remember on this day in 1956, Ozzie Virgil Sr. made his MLB debut as the league’s first player from the Dominican Republic. Virgil Sr. played in the MLB from 1956 to 1969 as a utilityman. Three of Virgil Sr.’s stints were with the New York/San Francisco Giants (1956-57, 1966, and 1969).

Up Next
The Giants and Dodgers will wrap up their rivalry series on Sunday at 4:10 p.m. Pacific. The Giants’ starter is TBD, while the Dodgers’ starter is Lance Lynn (12-11, 5.92 ERA).

Fitzgerald gets first MLB RBI in Giants’ 7-2 loss to Dodgers

Photo credit: Los Angeles Dodgers’ J.D. Martinez, second from right, heads to first for a solo home run as San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Kyle Harrison, left, watches along with catcher Blake Sabol, second from left, and home plate umpire Erich Bacchus during the fourth inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

By: Mary Anne

The San Francisco Giants began a four-game series with their biggest rival, the Los Angeles Dodgers, on Thursday night. The Giants lost a 7-2 heartbreaker to the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.

John Brebbia (3-1, 3.41 ERA) took the loss for the Giants. San Francisco fell to 76-77, while Los Angeles improved to 94-58.

The Giants’ starting lineup featured LaMonte Wade Jr., Wilmer Flores, Joc Pederson, Michael Conforto, Thairo Estrada, Mike Yastrzemski, Marco Luciano, Blake Sabol, Tyler Fitzgerald, and Kyle Harrison. Harrison pitched for 5 1/3 innings and gave up three hits, two earned runs, one walk, two strikeouts, and one home run.

After two scoreless innings, Los Angeles got on the board first. Enrique Hernandez was out on a sacrifice fly to Mike Yastrzemski. Chris Taylor scored for a 1-0 Dodgers lead in the bottom of the third inning with two outs.

The Dodgers doubled their lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. J.D. Martinez homered on a fly ball to right field for a 2-0 lead.

The Giants finally got on the board in the top of the fifth inning. Tyler Fitzgerald walked, and Mike Yastrzemski scored to cut the Dodgers’ lead to 2-1. Marco Luciano went to third base, while Blake Sabol went to second base.

The Giants tied the ballgame in the top of the sixth inning. Joc Pederson homered on a fly ball to center field to even the score 2-2.

The Dodgers regained their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. J.D. Martinez was out on a sacrifice fly to Mike Yastrzemski. Will Smith scored for a 3-2 lead with two outs.

Fast forward to the bottom of the seventh inning as the Dodgers extended their lead, thanks to a wild pitch by Luke Jackson. Chris Taylor scored first for a 4-2 lead. James Outman went to third base. Outman later scored to make it 5-2.

The Dodgers expanded their lead in the bottom of the eighth inning. J.D. Martinez singled on a sharp line drive to Tyler Fitzgerald. Freddie Freeman scored for a 6-2 lead. Chris Taylor singled on a ground ball to Michael Conforto. Max Muncy scored to make it 7-2. Miguel Rojas went to second base.

Notes
Tyler Fitzgerald made his MLB debut with the Giants on Thursday. Fitzgerald’s family cheered after he walked to record his first MLB RBI.

The Giants recalled Tristan Beck and Marco Luciano from Triple-A Sacramento while selecting Tyler Fitzgerald after optioning Sean Hjelle to yesterday’s Triple-A Sacramento postgame, placing Brandon Crawford on the ten-day injured list with a right hamstring strain, and placing Paul DeJong on unconditional release waivers.

Up Next
The Giants and Dodgers will meet again Friday night at 7:10 p.m. Pacific. The Giants will start Sean Manaea (6-6, 4.82 ERA). The Dodgers haven’t announced tomorrow’s starter yet.

San Francisco Giants podast with Marko Ukaloic: Giants need to shore up defense and bullpen needs to shut it down in second half

Brandon Belt San Francisco Giants first baseman is expected to help lead the way for the second half of the season (mercurynews.com file photo)

On the Giaints podcast with Marko:

#1 Going into the second half of the season how important is accomplished players like Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford.

#2 Also taking a look at the second half with infielders Marco Luciano and Thairo Estrada they’ve been a big help and manager Gabe Kapler can insert them in the line up at anytime.

#3 Evan Longoria has entertained the possibility of retiring at the end of this season playing away from his family who live in Arizona could this be his last season?

#4 Carlos Rodon who starts tonight for the Giants at Dodgers Stadium after resting in LA during the All Star Game had a great first half and is looking forward to the second half.

#5 Marko for the second half the Giants have some talent in their bullpen but can they keep it together in the middle and late innings with pitchers like Dom Leone, John Brebbia, Jarlin Garcia, Tyler Rogers, Camilo Doval and Trevor Rosenthal.

Marko filled in for Daniel Dullum for the Giants podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com