Tag: mlb

Tigers win front game of doubleheader 7-2; A’s can’t get enough offense again

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Detroit Tigers’ Jeimer Candelario, left, celebrates with Javier Baez after both scored on Robbie Grossman’s two-run double during the third inning in the first game of the doubleheader at the Oakland Coliseum on Thu Jul 21, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND- The Oakland A’s (38-55) started the second half of the 2022 season by hosting the Detroit Tigers (32-62) for a rare doubleheader Thursday afternoon. It is a matchup of two teams not having a great year. The Tigers are in fourth place in the AL Central.

The A’s are in the AL West cellar with the worst record in the American League. Thursday’s first game features two left-handed pitchers. Left Zach Logue was hoping to tame the Tigers. Detroit sent Tarik Skubal to the hill. Logue gave the A’s six innings.

His line was six innings, five hits allowed, three runs, and only two earned. Skubal did not allow a hit in his first four innings of work. He worked six innings and allowed two hits and one run. He was the winning pitcher.

The Tigers put two runs on the board in the top of the third. Tigers’ third baseman Jeimer Candelario led off the frame with a single. Logue retired the next two hitters. Tigers’ DH Javier Baez singled, sending Candelario to second. Former Athletic Robbie Grossman doubled over Chad Pinder’s head in leftfield to drive in bother runners. The Tigers lead 2-0 midway through the third inning.

The Tigers did a little more damage in the fifth. With two out, center-fielder Riley Greene singled. Greene advanced to third on a fielding error by A’s second baseman Sheldon Neuse. Robbie Grossman doubled to drive in Greene with Detroit’s third run. The run was unearned.

The Tigers lead 3-0. The A’s put their first run of the game on the board in their half of the fifth. Seth Brown’s pop-up into shallow left field was lost in the sun by third baseman Jeimer Candelario. The ball was untouched, and Brown was credited with a double.

He went to third on a passed ball. Stephen Piscotty’s sacrifice fly drove in Brown. Tarik Skubal had not allowed a hit until the fifth. The run was unearned.

Domingo Tapia was now pitching for Oakland in the seventh. The Tigers’ Jeimer Candelario blasted his seventh homer of the campaign over the wall in center field. Detroit leads 4-1. Alex Lange was now pitching for Detroit.

Seth Brown homered on an 0-2 pitch, leading off the bottom of the seventh. The A’s trail 4-2. The A’s put men on at first and third with one out but failed to score. The Tigers lead 4-2 after seven.

Detroit plated their fifth run of the game in the top of the eighth. Tapia walked Tigers’ catcher Eric Haase. Second baseman Johnathan Schoop doubled to drive in Haase. The A’s failed to score in the bottom of the inning. As the game heads into the ninth, the Tigers are in the driver’s seat with a three-run lead, 5-2.

The Tigers put two more on the board in the ninth. Tigers’ shortstop Zack Short walked to start the rally. Short stole second and scored on a single by Riley Greene. A single by Javier Baez and a walk to Robbie Grossman loaded the bases with no out.

Greene was out at home trying to score on a ground ball to A’s shortstop Nick Allen. Detroit challenged the call, but the call was upheld after the review. Johnathan Schopp drove in the Tigers’ second run of the inning with a sacrifice fly. The A’s went down in order 1-2-3 to end the game. Detroit wins 7-2.

Game Notes- with the loss, the A’s are 32-62. They are now 30 games under .500. The Tigers improved to 38-55.

The hitting star for Oakland was Seth Brown, with a double and a home run. Brown scored both of the A’s runs. The hitting stars for Detroit were Jeimer Candelario with a single and home run. Riley Greene had two hits, Javier Baez three, and Robbie Grossman two.

The line score for Detroit was seven runs, ten hits, and no errors. Oakland’s line was two runs, five hits, and one error.

The day’s second game will see Frankie Montas (3-9, 3.26ERA) going against the Tigers’ Garret Hill (1-1, 5.73 ERA).

The time of the game was 2:58.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: MLB Commissioner says A’s owner trying everything to stay in Oakland; plus more

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MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred addresses the media at the MLB Draft Day on Sun Jul 17, 2022 at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 During the All Star break MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said that Oakland A’s owner John Fisher has committed significant dollars trying to get baseball in Oakland. No doubt Fisher has made every effort to stay in Oakland but on the field the team has suffered and whatever the A’s have left might go before this month’s trade deadline.

#2 To give you an idea how the A’s are trying to save money they booked A’s lone All Star representative Paul Blackburn to fly commercial from Houston after last Sunday’s game to Los Angeles for the All Star Game but the Astros said that Blackburn can join their All Star players who were flying charter to LA.

#3 Manfred who speaking at the annual Baseball Writer’s Association of America on Tuesday before the All Star Game saying that the A’s Howard Terminal situation is, “an extraordinary difficult situation with their ballpark request.”

#4 A’s are coming off ending their first half with seven wins in nine games and hope to get some traction in the second half but a key factor is will they hold onto some of their players that have some experience to get those wins like Frankie Montas, Paul Blackburn, Sean Murphy, Chad Pinder, and Ramon Laureano.

#5 The Detroit Tigers come in Thursday for only one day at the Oakland Coliseum to play a doubleheader against the A’s as the front game starts 12:37pm PDT followed by the night cap. No starters have been announced for either game as of Wednesday night.

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

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Pederson says it would take whole team to get Juan Soto; Pablo Panda says he regrets Sox deal in 2014

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San Francisco Giants All Star representative Joc Pederson (23) is stunned after striking out against Oakland A’s representative pitcher Paul Blackburn at the 2022 All Star Game at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles on Tue Jul 19, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 During the All Star break Joc Pederson was commenting that it would take the whole team including key players Mike Yastrzemski, Logan Webb, and Joey Bart to get a player like Juan Soto. Is Soto’s value on a different universe?

#2 It’s pretty rare that players comment on trades, trade rumors or players who would be in a deal. Michael you’ve heard outfielder Joc Pederson during interviews in the first half of the season he’s pretty outspoken.

#3 Michael former Giant Pablo Sandoval said he should have remained a Giant instead of leaving the team in 2014 to join the Boston Red Sox for a five year $90 million contract. Pablo said he should have stayed and that he learned his lession.

#4 San Francisco Giants team president of operations Farhan Zaidi is going to look at getting some younger players through free agency who are more athletic can what players do you see him achieving that through getting draft pick or prospects by trade deadline moves?

#5 The Giants open a four game in Los Angeles against the Dodgers tonight. The Giants will start Carlos Rodon (8-5, 2.66) for the Dodgers Mitch White (1-2, 4.20) a 7:09 pm PDT first pitch. Rodon didn’t pitch in the All Star Game to get some extra rest how wise of a move was that and it also gets him the opportunity to open the series tonight?

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Some of the biggest and brightest baseball stars at tonight’s midseason classic

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Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber (12) took his hacks last night representing the National League at the All Star Home Run Derby at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles on Mon Jul 18, 2022. This photo came from Wed Jul 6, 2022 game against the Washington Nationals (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury the 2022 All Star Game saw some of the most exciting players in baseball Monday night during the Home Run Derby.

#2 Just going over some of the names that participated in the Home Run Derby from the Philadelphia Phillies Kyle Schwarber .208 70 hits, 28 homers and 58 RBIs. Schwarber a former Chicago Cub has been a big help for the Phillies.

#3 It’s the last and final season for the St Louis Cardinals Albert Pujols who’ll be retiring after this season so far Pujols is hitting .215, 32 hits, 6 homers and 20 RBIs and he be swung for extra money Monday night.

#4 Juan Soto who is at the All Star game said he’s uncomfortable answering questions about his future status with the Washington Nationals. Soto who recently was offered a 15 year $440 million contract which he rejected.

#5 Amaury, the Cleveland Guardians Jose Ramirez also was at the Derby last night is hitting .288 with 95 hits, 19 home runs and 75 RBIs Ramirez is having a great season.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish radio voice for the Oakland A’s heard on flagship station Le Grande 1010 KIQI San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: All-Star Game – Home Run Derby A Dominican Affair

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Gabriel “Tito”Avila Jr. (left) President and Founder The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame presenting Vladimir Guerrero (right) with induction plaque on Mon Jul 18, 2022 at the Los Angeles Convention Center at the 2022 All Star Game. (photo from Tito Avila and Amaury Pi Gonzalez MLB Hispanic Heritage Baseball Hall of Fame Museum president and vice president)

All-Star Game – Home Run Derby: A Dominican Affair

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Los Angeles Convention Center

Monday, July 18, 2022

The Home Run Derby was held in front of a very enthusiastic crowd at Dodger Stadium. The popular event that precedes the All-Star Game between the American and National League was won by Dominican superstar Juan Soto, Washington National’s 23-year-old slugger.

He won it over the sensational 21-year-old rookie Julio Rodriguez, also from the Dominican Republic; Julio is the regular center-fielder for the Seattle Mariners and the front runner to win the Rookie of the Year in the American League.

Juan Soto beat the great Albert Pujols, (a living legend) also born in the Dominican Republic and revered by all of his countrymen. Juan Soto won the HR Derby just one day after refusing a 15-year $440 million contract offer from his team, the Washington Nationals.

The Latino talent keeps growing in baseball as some of the game’s biggest stars hail from Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Panamá, México, Nicaragua and Colombia.

The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame has an exhibit at the Los Angeles Convention Center, the headquarters for all the festivities during this All-Star Week in Hollywood. Mr. Tito Avila Jr., Founder and President of the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame presented Guerrero with the museum plaque as he was enshrined in the HHBM Hall of Fame.

The 2022 All-Star Game marks the fourth time that the Dodgers will host the big event, including the third time in Los Angeles and the second at Dodger Stadium, which last staged the event in 1980. Previously, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was the site of the second All-Star Game of the 1959 season and in the franchise’s Brooklyn lineage, Ebbets Field hosted the 1949 All-Star Game.

The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame is proud to be present at the 2022 MLB All Star Game. The San Francisco Giants were the first MLB team to recognize the Museum in 1998. Since then, the HHBMHOF has exhibited in over half of the 30 MLB cities as well as in libraries, community centers and teams fan-fests, among other events.

The All Star Game will air live on FOX at 7pm ET/4pm PT.

Amaury Pi-González is Co-Foudner and Vice President of The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame. Founded in San Francisco, California in 1998 as a 501 (c) 3 Non-Profit Organization. The HHBMHOF is committed to preserving the history and profound influence that Hispanic players have had on America’s Favorte Past Time.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Giants end first half winning seven of their last nine games

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San Francisco Giants designated hitter Brandon Belt showed what the meaning of splendid splinter means breaking his bat for a bottom of the second inning RBI single. Belt would later hit a home run against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Jul 17, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic:

#1 Marko, San Francisco Giants starter Logan Webb is on a roll he picked up his ninth win on Sunday against the Milwaukee Brewers with an outing of six innings pitched, four hits, two earned runs, and five strikeouts.

#2 The Giants got some long ball help in the four run win over the Brewers 9-5 with a bottom of the third inning home run by LeMonte Wade Jr for 372 foot for a three run blast.

#3 Brandon Belt also got into the act with a 368 foot two run blast in the bottom of the sixth that put the Giants up 9-1 Belt is seeing the ball very well in the end of the first half of the season.

#4 Marko, wanted to talk to you about the Giants All Star selections starting with pitcher Carlos Rodon 8-5 ERA 2.66 and Joc Pederson .252 with 35 runs, 17 home runs, and 42 RBIs both who will represent the Giants at the All Star Game.

#5 Lastly the Giants have come on strong to close out the first half with seven wins in nine games talk a little about how they had that success and how you see them for the second half of the season.

Marko Ukalovic is filling in for Morris Phillips for the Giants podcasts heard Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: Vogt’s single in 8th gets A’s 4-3 win over Astros to take series

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Oakland Athletics’ Seth Brown, bottom left, slides safely past Houston Astros catcher Martin Maldonado to score on Stephen Vogt’s sacrifice fly during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 17, 2022, in Houston. (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara:

#1 Barbara what a way to end the first half of the season as the Oakland A’s beat the second best team the Houston Astros in baseball at Minute Maid Field Sunday 4-3.

#2 Stephen Vogt slugged a key single RBI in the top of the eight as the A’s and Astros were tied Vogt’s knock put the A’s on top which proved to be the game winner.

#3 The A’s Ramon Laureano contributed with a home run and his bat has been key going into the All Star break.

#4 The Astros got home run help from Kyle Tucker and Jeremy Peña the Astros in the first half of their season had been getting help from different hitters up and down their line up.

#5 The A’s hope to have a better second half but if hey have a huge fire sale that could bring in more inexperienced players that might further add more loses to their loss column.

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

LeMonte Wades into McCovey Cove with home run; Giants defeat Brewers 9-5 at Oracle to close out first half

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LeMonte Wade Jr belts a third inning three run home run for the San Francisco Giants against the Milwaukee Brewers at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Jul 17, 2022 (AP News photo)

Milwaukee       (50-43).          5.  9.  2

San Francisco (48-43).           9 12.  0

Sunday, July 27, 2022

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO-Saturday, it was Cobb; Sundady, it was Webb. Saturday, Alex Cobb wove a web of seven inning, four hit, no earned runs baseball, to guide the Giants to a heart pounding 2-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. That feat left the visitor’s record at 50-42 and their hosts’ at 47-43. Today, Logan Webb handled Milwaukee with ease, giving the Giants an almost tension free 9-5 win.

Webb entered the game with a  sterling mark of 8-3, 2.82, thanks largely to his judicious mixture of sliders and changeups.  The 25 year old righty left the game after hurling 6+ innings and allowing just a first inning run on a four bagger by Willy Adames and three scattered singles and two walks.

Webb had, however, left a runner on first who later scored a posthumous run, which was charged to his account. He struck five out five and threw a total of 88 pitches, of which 34 were balls. He earned his ninth win against three setbacks and saw his ERA rise from 2.82 to 2.83.

On the mound, starting for the visitors was the 24 year old lefty Aaron Ashby, in the second season of his MLB career, making his first appearance against San Francisco. Before today, the only Giant against whom he’d thrown a ball in anger was Joc Pederson, whom he walked.

Ashby took the mound at 2-6, 4.37. He´s both  started and relived this year, so, at first, it wasn´t clear if he was working today as a starter or an opener, especially when Jason Alexander, who originally had been announced as the probable pitcher for the Brewers, began warming up in their bullpen during the first inning.

Ashby ended up getting credit for pitching but one inning, leaving a posthumous runner on third with no outs in the second frame.

It didn’t take long for the Brew Crew to take the lead. ten pitches into the game, Willy Adames lifted a 91mph slider 424 feet into the left center field bleachers for a one out solo home run, the 19th of the year.

That run, the 51st batted in by the Brewers’ shortstop, was all the damage the visitors were able to inflict on Webb that inning.

The Giants counterattacked in their half of the initial frame. Austin Slater opened it with a ground double to center and advanced to third on a wild pitch to Brandon Belt, pinch hitting for Yermín Mercedes. Wilmer Flores´s sacrifice fly to center knotted the score at one and foiled the Curse of the Leadoff Double.

Mike Yastdrezmski´s lead off double against the left centerfield field wall and advancement to third on Jonathan Davis´s error settled the question of Ashby´s status. He was an opener; Jason Alexander left the bullpen and came to the mound. He fanned Joey Bart and LaMonte Wade, Jr. before issuing a free pass to Slater. 

Belt dropped a broken bat single to right that plated Yaz and sent Slater to second. He continued on to third, where he was thrown out by Hunter Renfroe’s strong throw. The Giants challenged the call, but Doug Eddings upheld it from New York. The Curse of the Leadoff Double was 0 for 2, and the Giants’ left the inning ahead, 2-1.

The hits just kept coming in the Giants’ third. A leadoff single to right by Flores; another base knock to right by Longoria; a double. off the right field wall by Pederson, and San Francisco was leading by two runs with men on second and third with nobody out.

That’s when the hits stopped coming, with Alexander getting a couple of ground outs. But then Joey Bart beat out a slow bounder to third to drive in Longoria with the second Giant run of the inning.

Wade accounted for their third, fourth, and fifth tallies of the frame by sending a slider into McCovey Cove for a splash hit, the third of his career and also his third home run of the season. Incidentally, it gave the Giants a margin of 7-1.

They upped that lead a couple of notches in the sixth on a walk to Slater and Belt’s 368 foot blast to right for his third round tripper in seven games.

After Webb granted a base on ball to Andrew McCutchen to open the visitors’ seventh, Jakob Judis, recently returned from the IL, took over and, after striking out Wong, surrendered a single to left by Jace Peterson, followed by a double to the same field by by Renfroe that allowed both runners to score, cutting the Giants’ lead to 9-3.

After Connor Sadzek relieved the badly battered Alexander following the seventh inning rituals and kept the Giants off the board, Judis allowed the Brew Crew to make a game of it, surrendering a solid single to left by Yellich and a 411 foot monster shot to Rowdy Tellez to center that closed the gap between the teams to 9-5.

Kapler, Bailey & Co. called on Camilo Doval to close down the Brewers in ninth. He earned his 13th save in 15 attempts, setting Milwaukee down in order with a little help from a spectacular catch in left by Pederson for the second out.

The Giants entered the all-star break on an upbeat note, winning three straight and looking good.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Mario Mendoza deserves an apology

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Former Pittsburgh Pirate Mario Mendoza whose name is used anytime someone hits under .200 as the “Medoza line” is seen here during his Pittsburgh Pirates days (pinterest.com file photo)

Mario Mendoza deserves an Apology

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Mario Mendoza was born in Chihuahua, México. He is 71 years old, played in the major leagues from 1974 to 1982 for the Pirates, Mariners and Rangers. A real nice man. I interviewed him and covered him when he was a player.

He wore wire-rim glasses, was soft spoken, a very decent man, and an excellent defensive shortstop. He ended his career with a .215 batting average. For decades his name continues to be mentioned by broadcasters and quoted by baseball writers when they talk about somebody hitting .200 or below, what is called; “The Mendoza Line”.

Today’s game has dozens of players hitting below the “Mendoza line”. Some of these players are making millions of dollars and hitting .165, but nobody dares to mention the Mendoza line when they step-up to the plate.

Why is this? Is it because the game of baseball has deteriorated to the point that hitting .160 with 19 home runs and 88 runs batted-in are considered “great numbers”? Obviously batting averages are not as important as they were.

Imagine telling Ted Williams and Ty Cobb something like that. I know that Rod Carew would take it personally and the great Tony Gwynn would also be offended.

When the name of ex-pitcher Tommy John is mentioned (which is all the time, and the popular surgery that bears his name), it brings memories of Tommy John, the pitcher, who was a good pitcher for many years.

When the Mendoza Line is invoked by journalist, print or electronic, it does not sound like it is a “good” thing. But today you can count many players who are hitting below .200 with the majority of teams that have played around 100 games by the All Star break.

In today’s world, where everybody is over sensitive and the word racism is thrown around like baseballs during batting practice, where pronouns are taking over common sense, where somebody who is related to a high profile politician, recently compared Latinos to Tacos, I ask myself is this a case for racism?

Whatever it is, I believe Mario Mendoza deserves an apology.

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

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: Athletics just couldn’t do anything with Astros Verlander

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Houston Astros pitcher Justin Verlander throws to the Oakland A’s line up in the top of the first inning at Minute Maid Field in Houston on Sat Jul 16, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason for Charlie O:

#1 Houston Astros (59-31) starter Justin Verlander threw for six innings, six hits and ten strikeouts against the Oakland A’s (31-61) it was a typical classic Verlander performance.

#2 Barbara, you’ve followed Verlander his whole career just his body of work in Detroit could get him nominated on the Hall of Fame ballot and with Houston a slam dunk.

#3 Also the Astro Martin Maldonado contributed with a second inning grand slam for a four run second inning.

#4 The Astros really came back with a vengeance after losing the opening game to the A’s on Friday night.

#5 The A’s and Astros conclude the series today at Minute Maid Field starting pitchers for the A’s To Be Announced and for the Astros Jose Ordorizzi (4-2, 3.38) an 11:10 am PDT first pitch.

Barbara Mason filled in for Charlie O for the A’s podcasts heard every other Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.