Tag: Matt Chapman

MLB podcast with Michael Duca: A’s getting lots of publicity in Vegas during Super Bowl week; SF Giants latest deals

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Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Matt Chapman is in talks with the San Francisco Giants as of Thu Feb 8, 2024 (AP News file photo)

On the MLB podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 Michael, when Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman says the A’s should stay in Oakland, that the A’s need to live their dream with a waterfront ballpark and they don’t have any plans is that not only truthful talk but also from a mayor whose city will not reap the financial benefits from a team that will be playing in unincorporated city like Paradise?

#2 It’s Super Bowl week and with Mayor Goodman speaking out on the A’s and grabbing headlines from football what does that say about how important relocating teams the wrong way in baseball?

#3 Michael, talk about the lawsuit by Strong Public Schools that argues the public money for the A’s Las Vegas ballpark was not voted on legitimately by the Nevada State Legislature back in April. That the legislature was supposed to vote on SB1 as a two thirds vote not by a majority. Strong Public Schools say they have a strong case and it could take down what is now looking like a house of cards for the Tropicana, the A’s and MLB.

#4 Michael switching over to the San Francisco Giants are talking with Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Matt Chapman talk about his chances of coming over to San Francisco and what it would mean to have him in the line up everyday?

#5 The Miami Marlins Jorge Soler is in talks with the Giants. Soler is in the final year of his three year $36 million contract and had opted out for agency. Soler is a right fielder and designated hitter he hit .250 with 36 home runs last season how do you see Soler helping out in the Giants line up for 2024?

Join Michael Duca Thursdays for the MLB podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Big Star Free Agents do not come to San Francisco

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Yoshinobu Yamamoto is being sought by the New York Mets brass who flew out to Japan to meet him. The San Francisco Giants are interested in obtaining Yamamoto’s services. Teams seeking Yamamoto will likely turn out to be a bidding war. (AP News file photo)

Big Star Free Agents do not come to San Francisco

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

SAN FRANCISCO–Last year, the Giants tried to lure free agents Aaron Judge and Carlos Correa, but they failed; other big stars like Bryce Harper (when he was a Free-Agent) have spurned the Giants. It has become much more common now that many big-name free-agent players dislike coming and playing in San Francisco.

It is not the money because the players I am talking about get the cash they want anywhere. It could be about the reputation that San Francisco has nationwide nowadays. Could it be the City by the Bay social-political situation has become not a favorite destination for some of the game’s biggest stars?

Most of these big-name free-agent players that get those multi-million dollar contracts tend to be conservative or non-political, and sometimes San Francisco doesn’t ‘rub them well”. They are all aware of this because, in today’s communication world, there is more than enough information out there, especially in social media.

This is what Farhan Zaidi, GM of the Giants, told Sussan Slusser of the SF Chronicle last year: “When we’re doing our research on free agents, and we find that players aren’t really that happy even coming into town for a three-game series, they’re probably not going to be that excited to play there for a long time.

So I think that’s part of what fueled our strategy of targeting guys with Bay Area ties. … Free agency is really, really competitive, especially at the top of the market. Even when you think you can sign a player, you’re probably not; that’s how it works. So when you don’t think you’ll sign a player, you’re definitely not going to sign him.”

No team needed Ohtani more than the Giants, but he is also not coming here. After Shohei Ohtani signed with the Dodgers, another Japanese player remains of high value; it is pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the best pitcher in Japan; estimates of this 25-year-old pitching star are that he could earn as much as a $300 million contract, and the Dodgers (of course) will go after him to paired him with Ohtani as they both won the 2023 World Baseball Classic together and have been playing together for years now.

Other free agents are Cody Bellinger, Matt Chapman, Jung-Hoo Lee, Teoscar Hernández, JD Martínez, Dylan Cease, Blake Snell, Corbin Burns, and Tyler Glasnow. Giants could use some more power in that lineup; Bellinger might be a good choice.

This 2023 off-season, the Giants went after Shohei Ohtani (who, like Aaron Judge last year, was the biggest fish to catch). Still, Ohtani decided to stay in Southern California and signed the richest-ever contract in American sports with the Los Angeles Dodgers, a 10-year mega-deal for $700 million.

Another reason for Giants fans to hate the Dodgers, but at this time, the Giants fans cannot be pleased with their General Manager Pete Putila. Is he a victim of circumstances that are beyond his control? What can you do if you offer big money contracts but players do not consider your offers? The mega-stars are not coming to San Francisco.

Note: Tom Cruise made $100 million for “Top Gun: Maverick,” his most recent movie, a worldwide success. Ohtani is making $700 million in 10 years with the Dodgers, also in Hollywood.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez for News and Commentary podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Dodgers Urias busted for second domestic charge; Giants on 4 game loss streak still half game out; plus more news

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Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Juan Urias picked up his second domestic violence charge the latest coming on Sun Sep 3, 2023 in Los Angeles. Urias posted bond and his future with the Dodgers is in question. (AP file photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary:

#1 Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Juan Urias was arrested on Sunday night at 11pm for felony domestic violence in Los Angeles. Urias was booked at 1:00 AM and posted a $50,000 bond 4:47am PT. This was Urias’ second domestic violence infraction in May 2019.

#2 The San Francisco Giants are slipping quickly they have lost their fourth straight game this time to the Chicago Cubs getting shutout by the Cubs starter Justin Steele 5-0. Despite losing four games in a row and struggling the Giants are only a half game out of the NL Wild Card race.

#3 The Toronto Blue Jays are getting hit by the injury bug, as catcher Danny Jansen is out with a fractured middle finger. He joins infielder Bo Bichette and Matt Chapman who recently joined the IL. Amaury your going to take in a Blue Jays contest tonight how do you see Chapman, Bichette, and Jansen absence impacting the Toronto line up.

#4 San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford whose had his share of injuries, also some are questioning could this be the end of his career and what about his future, Crawford has hit .200 in 78 games. To hear Crawford talk about it he’s focusing on trying to close the NL Wild Card gap and helping the Giants get in the post season.

#5 Amaury, how much do you think the fans and public at large have a say in the Oakland A’s relocation. There are people in Las Vegas who are not too happy about the way this deal went down to get the A’s with the use of the public money. Could the negative feedback of the fans possibly influence the owners at the relocation vote?

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice for the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB The Show podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Bad blood between Yanks-Rays spills out onto the field twice; Former Guardians manager Corrales dead at 82; plus more news

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Tampa Bay Rays’ Randy Arozarena argues with New York Yankees relief pitcher Albert Abreu (84) during the eighth inning at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Sun Aug 27, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the MLB The Show podcast with Stephen:

#1 The New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays got into two bench clearing dust ups at Tropicana Park in Tampa Bay. The first one was when the Rays Randy Arozarena was hit by a pitch by Yankees pitcher Albert Abreu. Some of the players needed to be held back by the coaches and umpires. After the field was cleared play continued. Arozarena stole second and third base and at third base started jawing with Abreu and the benches emptied again.

#2 Stephen, sad week, we’ve had a baseball player, radio talk show host and an official scorer pass away this past week. Former KNBR talk show host Mychal Urban, former MLB official scorer Art Santo Domingo, and now former Cleveland Guardian’s manager Pat Corrales passed away on Sunday at age 82. Los Angeles Dodgers president Stan Kasten said that Corrales worked hard, had a long list of players he influenced and that Pat truly loved the game. Urban was a talk show host and passed away early last week and Santo Domingo passed away on Friday was an MLB official scorer.

#3 Chicago interim police superintendent said Monday that the two women who were shot at Guarantee Rate Field had most likely been shot inside of the ballpark. Officials said they have no idea where the bullets came from but have ruled out that the bullets came from outside of the park. The shooting took place on Friday during the Oakland A’s-Chicago White Sox game.

#4 Stephen, the Toronto Blue Jays have their share of IL headaches as Matt Chapman has been placed on the 10 day IL for a sprained right middle finger and shortstop Bo Bichette is scheduled for an MRI for a sore right quadriceps. The Blue Jays are 2.5 game out of the AL Wild Card and will badly miss Chapman and Bichette out of the line up.

#5 Philadelphia Phillies start Bryce Harper and 2022 NL MVP said that he’s bummed that his AL MVP 2022 counterpart Shohei Ohtani won’t be allowed to pitch. Harper said he was looking forward to facing Ohtani at the Big A in Anaheim during the current series with Harper saying “I think we were all looking forward to it because he’s one of the best is the game, on that mound and in the batter’s box, as well,”

Stephen Ruderman is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB The Show podcast with Jim on Bases: Is the opener hurting or helping the Giants; Halos Ohtani had refused MRI weeks prior to going on the IL; plus more news

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Ryan Walker has been used as an opener for much of the season. The Giants openers have pitched four or less innings in 53 games. (San Francisco Chronicle file photo)

MLB The Show podcast with Jim On Bases:

#1 Jim, the San Francisco Giants are entering their 53rd game where a starter was used for four innings or less. In those 53 games those starters threw 80 pitches or less. Jim is the opener working or hurting the Giants.

#2 The Giants are just a 1.5 games out of the NL Wild Card and still can work their way in and finish by plenty ahead. They have have to beat the good teams and have struggled against the Atlanta Braves during this three game series dropping the first two. How important is it for San Francisco to win these games like these against the Braves.

#3 Injuries are becoming the norm in MLB particularly here in the dog days of summer, let’s start with the Los Angeles Angels Shohei Ohtani who refused an MRI just weeks before he was shelved with the UCL diagnosis. Ohtani is still being used as a DH and will not pitch and might be on the way to his second Tommy John surgery.

#4 Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette left Saturday’s game with right quad tightness in the top of the sixth inning against the Cleveland Guardians and third baseman Matt Chapman left with middle finger inflammation. Chapman was sidelined earlier this season for the same issue. Bichette was hitting .316 and Chapman was hitting .248. The Jays are desperate for a playoff spot and are concerned about losing two of their key players.

#5 Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao said the Oakland A’s could stay at the Oakland Coliseum until their new stadium is built in Las Vegas but with the condition that the city of Oakland is promised an expansion team or Oakland keeping the A’s name. Jim, what do you see those odds are? MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred’s whole goal was to get out of Oakland in the first place because of what he said bad attendance and the city wouldn’t build a ballpark, do you see him expanding to Oakland in the future or MLB has abandon Oakland for good?

Jim on Bases is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: The Tale of the Fire Sale–Chapman looks very close to leaving for Philadelphia or New York

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Oakland A’s Matt Chapman (26) will not be forearm bashing anymore with former teammate Matt Olson (right) seen here Mar 5, 2021 against the Los Angeles Angels in spring training at Hohokam Park in Mesa. Olson now with the Atlanta Braves and Chapman on the trade block (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary:

#1 Amaury, it comes as no surprise that once the lockout was lifted the Oakland A’s would have an early season fire sale and pitcher Chris Bassitt who left for the New York Mets was one of the first followed by A’s first baseman Matt Olson.

#2 And while it’s no surprise of their departure it’s still hard to grasp for anyone who follows the A’s that it’s a hard pill to swallow to have to say good bye to Bassitt, Olson and soon to be Matt Chapman.

#3 Olson led in many categories for the A’s at different times with on base percentage .371, 101 runs, 153 hits, 35 doubles, RBIs, home runs and walks with 88, 74 base hits, and four stolen bases.

#4 The in picking for players from the Atlanta Braves in the Olson deal two right handed pitchers Ryan Cusick and Joey Estes, catcher Shea Langeliers and outfielder Cristian Pache. Langeliers could be the key player in the deal a number one draft choice for the Braves. A’s team vice president Billy Beane might have some of that Money Ball magic going again and have himself a core of players in the works.

#5 Amaury talk about Matt Chapman being on the trade block bubble he’s the All Star third baseman the guy that A’s fans sought in their pack of baseball cards he’s very close to being no more and the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies are shopping Chapman hard core he might get a crazy Bryce Harper type contract.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzaelz at the mic for Oakland A’s Spanish radio beisbol all season long on flagship station 1010 KIQI LeGrande San Francisco and for News and Commentary podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong: Snydergaard to wear a Halos hat for 1 yr at $21 million; Kyrie won’t take the shot Nets could make him trade bait; plus more

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Former New York Met Noah Snydergaard will be winding up for the Los Angeles Angels during the 2021 season he’s signed onto a one year deal which was completed on Mon Nov 15, 2021 with the Angels (AP News file photo)

On Headline Sports with Jessica:

#1 Former New York Met pitcher Noah Syndergaard has signed onto a one year $21 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels. Snydergaard pitched for seven years for the New York Mets Snydergaard joins an Angels team that is struggling with starting pitching and hopes to shore that up joining forces with the face of baseball and new teammate Shohei Ohtani.

#2 Brooklyn Nets superstar Kyrie Irving on Sunday sent out two tweets one showing a picture of the matrix and the other saying “God never fails.” The City of New York has a full vaccine protocol for employees, players, and fans and Irving can’t come into Barclay Center until he’s fully vaccinated.

#3 From all indications from his responses and convictions he will not take the vaccine. Kyrie is allowed to travel with the Nets but the Nets have elected to have him sit out for road trips until he is fully vaccinated which does not look likely.

#4 Former New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan had some heavy criticism for Jets head coach Robert Saleh saying he has philosophical differences in his coaching abilities and Ryan added that he’s insulted when he’s compared to Saleh regarding defensive strategies. Saleh said if Ryan feels that personal about it he knows where to find me.

#5 Jessica the New York Yankees and Mets are looking to make some moves to acquire free agents Starling Marte and the Yankees have express interest in Matt Chapman both who were teammates on the Oakland A’s last season. Marte last season played with the Miami Marlins before being dealt to Oakland mid season and hit .310, 145 hits, 12 HRs, and 55 RBIs, Chapman hit .210, 111 hits, 27 home runs, 72 RBIs.

Join Jessica every other Wednesday for Headline Sports podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Kemp, Blackburn, Chapman key group effort in A’s critical, 3-1 win over the Yankees in series finale

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By Morris Phillips

OAKLAND–The A’s hope Sunday’s rousing finish signals the beginning of a fourth chapter of what has been a very, complicated story to their season.

If so, the dramatic elements were present, and the timing couldn’t be any be better for an Oakland bunch that simply has been hard to figure out.

The A’s got a two-run homer from Tony Kemp in the eighth inning to break up a 1-1 tie and propel them to a series split with the Wild Card-leading Yankees with a 3-1 win. The A’s avoided a 2-7 finish to their homestand, which would have been their worst showing since 2001. Instead, they gained ground on the Yankees, Red Sox in the wild card hunt and moved to within 5 1/2 games of the Astros in the race for the AL West.

In a game dominated by pitching and defense–both scintillating and head-scratchingly poor–Kemp’s home run was only the second extra-base hit of the evening, and came one pitch after the first, a scalding double by Mark Canha that set the stage for Kemp’s heroics.

“The last thing I was trying to do was hit a home run right there,” Kemp said. “I saw a good pitch and put my best swing on it, and I think I was as surprised as everybody else was in the stands.”

After opening the season 0-6, the A’s soared to a stretch of 44 wins in 65 games, including a 13-game win streak. Since then they’re 28-32 and were a season-worst 3 1/2 games out of a playoff spot entering Sunday’s contest. To put it mildly, Sunday’s stand against the Yankees, just off their own 13-game win streak, was put up or shut up.

Both starting pitchers were outstanding. New York’s Jordan Montgomery went six innings, allowing six hits and a run on Matt Chapman’s RBI fielder’s choice ground out. Paul Blackburn put up five, scoreless innings allowing five hits and a walk while departing with a 1-0 lead.

The A’s bullpen appeared equal to the task of backing up Blackburn, but were burned by consecutive errors in the seventh. Catcher Yan Gomes dropped a foul pop between third and home that extended Anthony Rizzo’s at-bat, and allowed him to deliver a ground ball that Chapman misplayed between his legs for an error that allowed Gary Sanchez to score from second and tie the game.

The back-to-back errors came during a streak in which the A’s committed just three miscues in their last 14 games.

In the eighth, the A’s took advantage of Chad Green, the third New York reliever who gave up Canha’s double and Kemp’s home run. Reliever Deolis Guerra pitched a scoreless eighth to earn the win for the A’s.

The A’s back-to-back wins follow a stretch of six, consecutive losses and losses in 10 of 12 games. On a positive note, the stretch precedes a three-game series in Detroit that starts Tuesday, followed by a trip to Toronto and home games against the White Sox. The A’s have had success this season against AL Central opponents, which they hope continues against the Tigers and Sox.

On Tuesday, Cole Irvin is scheduled to get the start for Oakland in a matchup with Hayward-native Tarik Skubal, who has a 8-11 record on the season.

A’s prove resilient, bounce back from heartbreaker with 6-2 win over the Giants

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Cole Irvin’s answer to four hours of frustrating, fruitless baseball on Saturday night was eight, scoreless innings on Sunday.

For the needy A’s, it turned out to be a pretty good answer.

“The mindset was pound the zone with fastballs and get ahead, and everything seemed to be working,” Irvin said in his post game interview with NBC Sports Bay Area.

Irvin was gifted a 2-0, first inning lead before his first pitch, then he cruised through eight innings, allowing just one Giants’ baserunner to reach second base (in the eighth) on his watch. While the Giants played their usual patient game at the plate, they did so without a payoff this time–Irvin didn’t allow any extra-base hits among the three hits and two walks he surrendered.

“It’s all about getting ahead,” manager Bob Melvin said, well aware of the pressure relieved by Irvin after the A’s dropped a 6-5, extra-inning heartbreaker the day before. “You get ahead, now you force them to swing a little bit more. When you have some sink and you can keep the ball in the strike zone and move both sides, it’s tough to get the barrel on it.”

The Giants–and their sellout crowd–did all they could to loosen Irvin’s grip on the afternoon, but to no affect. The A’s nursed their 2-0 lead into the sixth, then broke the game open with three runs in the sixth and one more in the seventh. The Giants, despite having baseball’s best record, and being the first team to 50 wins, have had some issues with shutouts. They avoided their third shutout in the last 15 games by pushing across a pair of runs in the ninth against reliever Deolis Guerra.

The A’s have surged in June with a 16-8 record, but watching the first place Astros rip off 11 straight wins to surpass them in the division, then run into the hot Giants and have to avoid a sweep may have played a role in their psyche on Sunday. Melvin sensed it, but with a half season still to play, the manager was careful not to overplay it.

“I’m not saying it was the most important game in the world but our guys came out with some fire,” Melvin said. “They were a little upset last night that we lost that game.”

Matt Chapman extended his MLB-best 15-game hit streak with a two-run single in the first. Then with the Giants issuing free passes via two hit batsmen and a walk, the A’s fashioned a three-run rally with just one base hit in the sixth. Aramis Garcia, who did his best work on Sunday behind the plate in support of Irvin, added an RBI single in the seventh to close the books on Oakland’s scoring.

A day off Monday and home games against Texas and Boston are next for the A’s, and the leadup to their next meeting with the Astros at Minute Maid Park a week from Tuesday.

A’s not letting early season struggles define them

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By Morris Phillips

Among the encouraging things happening with the A’s the last couple of games?

Seth Brown may finally be ready to bring his big fly game to the Major League level.

The 28-year old is well-known in minor league circles as an unrepentant slugger, the author of 92 home runs since his debut in 2015, including 37 in just 112 games for AAA Las Vegas in 2019.

That last line had the A’s hopeful Brown could elevate his game in Oakland, but in his first 36 games with the A’s over the last three seasons, Brown didn’t clear any fences…

Until Saturday night. With the A’s 6-0 lead cut in half, Brown took reliever Ryan Stanek into the upper deck, a not-high-enough fastball turned into a memory of a lifetime. So majestic was Brown’s homer, the flight of the ball on television revealed the entire Minute Maid Park scoreboard showing Brown’s numbers without a home run for the last time.

“The only thing he doesn’t have on his resume is a homer for a guy who really is a home run hitter,” manager Bob Melvin said. “I know that takes a lot of pressure off him now that he finally has a home run.”

Pressure off Brown? More succinctly, pressure off the entire Oakland roster. Brown’s shot put the finishing touches on a 7-3 win, the A’s third in four games after an 0-6 start. Not wanting to get buried in the competitive AL West two weeks in, the A’s are fighting back, and giving their 2021 season a healthier look.

In the last four games, the A’s have out-manuvered the Dodgers late, come up with some more late game magic in Houston on Friday, and set up a couple of wins with nearly identical, exemplary starts by Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas.

The key? When you don’t fall behind early–as the A’s did repeatedly in their winless start–you can pick your spots and pounce on the opposition in the later innings.

“We grind it out a little bit and stay in the game until we do something nice late,” said Mark Olson, who came up big in Friday’s win. “I think we can take this momentum and ride it out.”

A few key presences must be reclaimed from the injury list with Chad Pinder (knee), Mike Fiers (hips), Burch Smith (strained groin) and A.J. Puk (strained biceps) on the 10-day injured list, and Trevor Rosenthal on the 60-day list after surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome on Thursday.

Matt Chapman and Sean Murphy remain mired in awful slumps, but both have expressed optimism in recent days–not just for themselves, but for the team as a whole.

We’re always rotating guys and new faces, so for us, it always takes a little bit to get going,” Chapman said. “But once we get going, we’re able to really bond and really pick up steam.”

The A’s open a two-game set with the Diamondbacks in Phoenix on Monday. Familiar face Madison Bumgarner squares off against Chris Bassitt in the opener at 6:40pm.