Tag: mlb

A’s lose opener to Rays 6-2

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Photo credit: @statesfly

By Jerry Feitelberg

The A’s started a three-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field Monday night. The A’s had a little trouble getting out of Arlington, Texas on Sunday night and the team arrived late in Florida with a game they still had to play. The A’s started rookie Tanner Anderson. Anderson played college ball at Harvard and made his first Major League start. Also, Anderson is from the Tampa area, and had many family members in attendance.

The young man did not disappoint his family or his team. Anderson went 5 2/3 innings and allowed three hits and two runs. His team did not provide any run support until late in the game.

Meanwhile, Rays starter, Charlie Morton, shut down the A’s offense for seven innings. Morton, who signed with the Rays as a free agent, pitched exceptionally well. He had his cutter and slider working. He baffled the A’s right-hand hitters with an array of pitches that swept across the plate. In his seven innings of work, he gave up two hits and no runs. He won his eighth game of the year.

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out and one man on, Rays rookie second baseman, Brandon Lowe (pronounced Lau) slammed his 14th home run of the year into the left-field seats. Lowe, without doubt, will be a candidate for Rookie of the Year.

The Rays added two in the seventh and two in the eighth. Kevin Kiermaier hits his eighth of the year to make it 4-0, and Ji-Man Choi hit his seventh with a man on to make it 6-0.

The A’s avoided the shutout when they scored two in the ninth. Mark Canha walked to get the rally going. Canha scored on Stephen Piscotty’s double and Piscotty scored on Robbie Grossman’s single. The A’s could do no more, and they fell to the Rays 6-2.

Game Notes: With the loss, the A’s record dropped to 33-34. Anderson took the loss, and he is 0-1. The Rays’ Charlie Morton improved to 8-0, and his ERA dropped to 2.10.

The Rays’ line was six runs, eight hits, and no errors. The A’s line was two runs, four hits, and no errors.

The A’s announced their shortstop Marcus Semien was named AL Player of the Week.

Up Next: Game two of the series will be played Tuesday night at Tropicana Field. Game time will be at 4:10 pm.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Muncy’s 1st inning home run leaves MadBum really mad

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from sfgate.com: Los Angeles Dodgers’ Max Muncy rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run off of San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Sunday, June 9, 2019.

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 San Francisco Giants starter Madison Bumgarner hates it when anyone flips a bat or makes a gesture, and when the Dodgers come to town, there’s that chance that could happen instead of the bat flipping when the Dodgers’ Max Muncy went for a splash hit into McCovey Cove in right field. The fireworks started when Muncy was admiring the homer and Bumgarner told Muncy to run and not watch the ball.

#2 Bumgarner said that he would rather fight than let the new age of hitters flip a bat or admire a home run saying Muncy could do his thing while I do mine.

#3 It was the second game of the three-game set between the two clubs and the bad blood didn’t wait to get started. Muncy said that he look for only a moment and then took two steps and started to run the bases. Muncy also said that if Bumgarner didn’t like him to watch the ball that Bumgarner could go to the ocean and get it.

#4 Things did settled down as no one would score for the rest of the afternoon as the Dodgers got a 1-0 shutout behind the fine pitching of starter Walker Buehler, who went seven innings with a shutout giving up five hits.

#5 The Giants have Monday off, but will host the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night at Oracle with the Padres starting Chris Paddack (4-4, 2.97 ERA), and for the Giants, Tyler Beede (0-2, 8.15 ERA).

Morris Phillips does the Giants podcasts and reports each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Muncy makes Bumgarner go swimming for the ball in Dodgers’ 1-0 win over the Giants

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Photo credit: @Lakers_newsnow

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — Madison Bumgarner made only one mistake on the afternoon, and Max Muncy took advantage.

Muncy launched a Bumgarner offering 426 feet into McCovey Cove, as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Francisco Giants 1-0 before a crowd of 34,098 at Oracle Park.

Following the home run, Bumgarner and Muncy began to jaw at one another and home plate umpire Will Little got between the two as Muncy rounded the bases.

He took exception to me watching the ball, I guess. Muncy said, ‘You don’t watch the ball. You run.’ That’s what he told me. Truth of it is, it’s just a guy out there competing. He was upset he made a bad pitch and that’s really all there was to it. I told him ‘If you don’t want me to watch the ball, you can go in the ocean and get it, Muncy added.

Little came out to give Bumgarner a new ball, and nothing was said in regards to the incident.

“They want to let everyone be themselves, then let me by myself. That’s me. You do your thing, Ill do mine. Everybody is different. That’s how I want to play, that’s how I’m going to,” said Bumgarner.

The Splash Hit by Muncy was only the second one that Bumgarner gave up in his major league career, and first since Carlos Gonzalez of the Colorado Rockies did it on April 11, 2014

This was only the third time since 1900 that the Dodgers have defeated the Giants 1-0 and the only run came on a solo home run.

Trent Hubbard hit a home run off of Shawn Estes on September 20, 1998 and Dioner Navarro did it off of Tim Lincecum on July 20, 2011

In his next at-bat, Muncy grounded out to Joe Panik at second in the top of the fourth inning and then walked in the top of the sixth inning.

Panik led off the bottom of the first inning with a sharp double off of Dodgers starter Walker Buehler, but he was stranded at second base.

The Giants managed to get runners to first and second in the bottom of the third inning, but Buehler struck out Bumgarner swinging to end the inning.

Things looked promising for the Giants in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Mike Yastrzemski single and then Evan Longoria followed up with a single of his own that sent Yastrzemski to third base. Unfortunately, Pablo Sandoval grounded to Justin Turner at third base and Yastrzemski broke for home, he was eventually tagged out by catcher Austin Barnes as he attempted to get back to third base.

Buehler then got Stephen Vogt to fly out to Kyle Garlick in left field, and then got out of the jam, as Kevin Pillar out flew to Chris Taylor in center field.

It was a great day for Buehler, who went seven innings, allowing zero runs on five hits, walking just one and striking out nine on his way to seventh win of the season against just one loss.

On the other side of things, Bumgarner went seven strong innings, giving up just one run, while scattering four hits, walking just one and striking out five.

It seems that the Giants are not able to get that runner in while in scoring position, as in Saturdays 7-2 loss to the Dodgers, they went a collective 1-for-11, and in this loss, they went 0-for-7.

NOTES: With the loss, the Giants are now 11-20 on the season at home, the second-worst in the National League and have lost seven out of their last eight at home. To make matters even worse, the Giants have scored two or fewer in six of those eight games.

The last time that the Giants lost a game 1-0 at home came on June 12, 2015 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

This was the first time that the Giants lost a game where the only came on a home run since July 27, 2013, when former Giants outfielder Nate Schierholtz hit a solo home run to give the Chicago Cubs the 1-0 victory. Schierholtzs’ home run came in the top of the ninth inning off of Sergio Romo.

Travis Bergen, who is currently out with a left shoulder strain began his rehab assignment on Friday night with the San Jose Giants and threw one scoreless inning with a strikeout. In that one inning, Bergen threw 13 pitches, nine of them for strikes.

Buster Posey continues to get better, and could be activated from the injured list on Wednesday, prior to the game versus the San Diego Padres.

UP NEXT: Following an off-day on Monday, the Giants open a brief two-game series with the San Diego Padres beginning on Tuesday night. Tyler Beede still looks for that elusive first major league victory, as he will get the start in the opener and Chris Paddack looks to his raise his record to 5-4, as he takes the mound for the Padres.

Oakland A’s podcast with Joey Friedman: A’s get swept up in a double dip by nemesis Texas

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photo from sfgate.com: Oakland Athletics first baseman Matt Olson reaches up but is unable to catch the throw to the bag as Texas Rangers’ Delino DeShields (3) sprints to first in the fourth inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, June 8, 2019. DeShields reached on the throwing error by Athletics third baseman Chad Pinder. …

On the A’s podcast with Joey:

#1 The Oakland A’s got swept in a doubleheader on Saturday by the Texas Rangers after the A’s had won three of their last four games. A’s dropped the first game at the Ball Park in Arlington 10-5 the A’s starter Paul Blackburn struggled to get hitters out.

#2 The Rangers wasted no time scoring three runs in the first and two runs in the third inning to start a 5-0 lead.

#3 The A’s a team never to give in scored four runs in the top of the fourth but their pitching collapsed in the bottom of the fifth surrendering four runs and the Rangers with the eventual win in the front game.

#4 In the night cap the A’s got some good pitching out of starter Chris Bassitt who went 5.2 innings, five hits, three earned runs and five strike outs but it wasn’t enough as the A’s offense couldn’t get Bassitt any runs in the 3-1 loss.

#5 A’s and Rangers mix it up again Sunday in the conclusion of the four game series the A’s will be starting Frankie Montas (7-2 ERA 2.83) and for the Texas Rangers Drew Smyly (1-4 ERA 7.93)

Joey Friedman does the A’s podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Seager goes 4-for-5 in Dodgers’ 7-2 win over Giants

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Photo credit: @Angel_City_Buzz

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — In what was a close game, evaporated rather quickly for the San Francisco Giants in the top of the eighth inning.

Dereck Rodriguez gave up four runs on just two hits, and walked two, as the Los Angeles Dodgers broke open a close game on their way to a 7-2 victory over the Giants before a crowd of 37,784 at Oracle Park.

Corey Seager came up with the big blow in the inning, as he took a Mark Melancon pitch and put it into the right-center field alley to score both Max Muncy and Justin Turner.

It was the fourth hit of the day for Seager, marking the seventh time that the shortstop picked up four hits in the same game and the first time since April 18, 2018 against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.

Russell Martin got the marathon eighth inning started, as he singled off of Rodriguez, then David Freese doubled, and then Joc Pederson reached on a Fielders Choice that loaded the bases. Following the Pederson Fielders Choice, Muncy drove in a run, as he walked off of Rodriguez and then Turner did the same to score Freese.

That would be all for Rodriguez, as Melancon came on to replace and got Pederson at the plate, as he tried to advance on a throw that got by Aramis Garcia.

Bellinger was then intentionally walked for the third time on the afternoon, and then Seagers double broke the game wide open.

They are both really good hitters, said Bruce Bochy.

Rich Hill went five innings for the Dodgers, as he picked up his third win of the season. Hill allowed two runs on seven hits, walking three and striking out six.

The same cannot be said for Jeff Samardzija, who five and one-thirds innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, walking two and striking out five. Samardzija also uncorked two wild pitches, as he saw his record fall to 3-5 on the season.

Unfortunately, Samardzija was on the receiving end of a couple bad calls by home plate umpire Andy Fletcher that led to the departure of Samardzija, one call was the fact that it looked like Pederson did not get out of the way on a pitch that hit him. The play was reviewed by the umpires, and the play stood.

He did a hell of a job of not getting of the way, said Samardzija.

Seager gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning, as he picked up his second hit in as many at-bats after Bellinger was intentionally just in front of him. Pederson scored, as he reached on a wild pitch after he was struck out by Samardzija and went to third on a Turner ground-rule double that bounced into the seats down the left field line.

Garcia tied it up in the bottom of the third inning, as he hit his third home run of the season, an opposite field shot that landed on the arcade in right field.

Donovan Solano gave the Giants the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, as he singled in Kevin Pillar and Brandon Crawford beat the Alex Verdugo throw to third base.

Seager tied up the game in the top of the fifth inning, as he picked up his third hit in as many at-bats, when his double scored Turner, who led off the inning with a single.

Turner gave the Dodgers the lead for good in the top of the sixth inning, as his sacrifice fly scored Kyle Garlick from third base.

It was a huge day for Garlick, who picked up his first major league hit on a double down the left field line and then scored his first major league run on the Turner sacrifice fly to Mike Yastrzemski in right field.

Things started out rough for the Giants, as Tyler Austin banged his knee against the wall in foul territory in left field, but stayed in the game.

Then Pillar and Yastrzemski ran into each other on a ball that Muncy hit in the first, but Yastrzemski held onto it for the second out of the inning.

That was no mans land, and the crowd noise, said Bochy.

The Dodgers loaded the bases in the first inning for the second straight game, but like Drew Pomeranz on Friday night, Samardzija got out of it, unscathed.

NOTES: Evan Longoria committed his eighth error of the season, tying him with Josh Donaldson of the Atlanta Braves for the most by a third baseman in the National League.

The Giants went 1-for-11 with Runners in Scoring Position, and over their last four games, they are 2-for-20 with RISP.

UP NEXT: Madison Bumgarner takes the mound in the series finale, as he will make his 34th career start against the Dodgers and is 15-12 with a 2.56 ERA. Walker Buehler will take the mound for the Dodgers, as he will make his second start of the season against the Giants and fifth appearance overall with two starts and is now 2-0 with a 4.38 ERA lifetime.

Two-run sixth inning does it for the Giants

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-What a difference one week and a day off did for Drew Pomeranz and the San Francisco Giants.

Kevin Pillar singled with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning to score Brandon Belt, who walked to lead off the inning and the Giants defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 before a crowd of 35,157 at Oracle Park.

Stuck that big 14 sized shoe in there, said Belt.

Pomeranz, who did not make it out of the 2nd inning in his last start, went five innings, allowing just three hits, walking one and striking out seven.

The seven strikeouts by Pomeranz tied a season-high that was first accomplished against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on April 18.

Pomeranz escaped a first inning jam that could have been tragic, but he settled down after loading the bases and got David Freese and Corey Seager to strikeout to end the inning.

Just made my pitches, said Pomeranz.

During the Belt at-bat, he fouled a ball off down the left field line that saw Chris Taylor fall over the bullpen mound. Belt regrouped in the at-bat to pick up the key baserunner that helped the Giants get on the board and eventually win the ballgame.

We got a break there when Taylor fell over the mound, said Bochy.

Following the Pillar single, Brandon Crawford grounded into a fielders choice that saw Longoria beat the throw from Max Muncy.

Not only did Belt come up big at the plate with that key walk, but he also dropped a bunt with the Dodgers in the shift and also came up big on the defensive side of things.

With Muncy on first base after a leadoff walk against Reyes Moronta, Justin Turner lined out to Belt, and with Muncy running on the play, Belt just stepped on first base for the double play.

Things were looking great for the Giants until Chris Taylor uncorked a solo home run over the center field wall to cut the Giants lead in half in the top of the eighth inning.

After the Taylor home run, Tony Watson, who gave up the home run to Taylor, then gave up a single to Muncy; however, Watson was able to regroup, as he got Turner to lineout to Crawford at shortstop and then Cody Bellinger flew out to Steven Duggar to end the inning and the threat.

Clayton Kershaw, who went seven innings, allowing two runs on six hits, walking one and striking out four, as he saw his record fall to 5-1 on the season. This was Kershaws first loss since July 21, 2018 against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.

Will Smith came on to close out the game for the Giants, as he is now 14-for-14 in save opportunities this season.

Since moving to San Francisco in 1958, Smith is third all-time in save opportunities to start a season. Smith trails Rod Beck, who converted 28 in a row to start the 1994 season and Craig Lefferts picked up 15 straight in the 1989 National League Championship season for the Giants.

NOTES: This was the Giants’ 14th win of the season in one-run games, and they have the best winning percentage in baseball (14-5), a winning percentage in one-run games.

Kershaw last lost at Oracle Park on October 1, 2016, and it was just his second loss in San Francisco in his last 10 decisions.

Bellinger saw his career-high 12-game hitting streak come to an end, as he went 0-for-3 on the night.

UP NEXT: Jeff Samardzija heads to the mound on Saturday afternoon for the Giants, while Rich Hill will take the mound for the Dodgers.

Semien Spectacular, A’s Edge Rangers 5-3

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Photo credit: sfchronicle.com

By Matthew Harrington

The Oakland A’s found themselves a game over .500 once again after beating the Texas Rangers 5-3 in Arlington Friday night. Marcus Semien went 4 for 5 with two homeruns, including the game-winning two-run shot in the ninth and Blake Treinen wriggled out of a bases loaded one-out rally in the ninth to preserve the win for Yusmeiro Petit. Petit (1-1) also escaped a bases loaded jam in the seventh.

The A’s were trailing 3-2 entering the seventh inning, but Semien stepped up with one out and runners on first and third, singling home Mark Canha off Shelby Miller to tie the game. He knocked in his third and fourth runs of the game, launching a Jose Leclerc (1-2) offering over the wall in right for a two-run blast in the top of the 9th and a 5-3 A’s lead.

Treinen entered the bottom of the inning looking to nail down the game. He got a fly out of Rougned Odor but pinch-hitter Ronald Guzman singled and Delino DeShields and Logan Forsythe walked to load the bases. Treinen coaxed a 5-4-3 double play out of Elvis Andrus to end the game and notch his 13th save.

Oakland led 2-0 by the fifth inning after a Matt Olson RBI single and Marcus Semien’s first homer of the game, his eighth of the season, both of Texas starter Lance Lynn. A’s starter Brett Anderson was cruising through five, giving up no runs, but the 6th inning proved his downfall. Elvis Andrus hit an RBI triple, Nomar Mazara grounded out but plated a run and Hunter Pence blasted his 13th longball of the season to give the Rangers a 3-2 edge late in the game, a lead Semien would single-handedly erase.

The A’s and Rangers, separated by one game in the standings, will play two Saturday. Paul Blackburn draws the game one assignment for the Green and Gold, while Chris Bassitt gets game two. Joe Palumbo and Adrian Sampson get the ball for Texas.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Down goes Frazier, but more like downtown with two homers

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Photo credit: @NYDNSports

On the Giants podcast with Miguel:

#1 For the second game in a row the New York Mets came up winners with a 7-3 on Thursday and won the previous game 7-1 on Wednesday. For a 4-5 road trip.

#2 Todd Frazier put new meaning to the famous term “down goes Frazier” but it’s more like going downtown with two home runs.

#3 The Giants in those two games got lit up including on Wednesday when Tyler Beede pitched five innings for five runs, five earned, four walks, and five strikeouts. Was Tyler off balance or was he grooving the ball?

#4 On Thursday Mark Melancon got lit up in one inning of relief five hits and four runs. Is this a matter of his breaking ball won’t break, they’re seeing his fastball or he just isn’t a mystery?

#5 It’s the Dodgers and the Giants at Oracle Park for the first of three on Friday night. The Dodgers start Clayton Kershaw (5-0, 3.20 ERA), and for the Giants, Drew Pomeranz (1-6, 8.08 ERA), a 6:45 pm start.

Michael Duca does the Giants podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s outlast Angels 7-4, win series

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s downed the LA Angels Thursday night to bounce back from a very tough loss on Wednesday. The A’s got off to another good start. The A’s led 6-1 midway through the fifth inning. The Angels made it 6-3 in their half of the fifth when Mike Trout homered with a man aboard. A’s manager Bob Melvin must have thought it was deja vu all over again. The Angels rallied from a 7-1 deficit on Wednesday to beat the A’s. The Green and Gold did not want to suffer another defeat like that on Thursday.

The A’s put three on the board in the top of the fourth. Stephen Piscotty started the rally with a single. He went to second when the Angels’ catcher Dustin Garneau committed an error by mishandling a pitch from Tyler Skaggs.  Three more singles and two sacrifice fly balls put the runs on the board. The Angels got one back in the bottom of the inning. Singles by Shohei Ohtani, Kole Calhoun, and David Fletcher loaded the bases for the Angels. Brian Goodwin drove in Ohtani with a sac fly to Ramon Laureano in center field. The A’s led 3-1.

The A’s plated three more in the fifth. Chad Pinder and Matt Chapman walked to get things going for Oakland. Khris Davis singled to drive in Pinder. Chapman and Davis advanced to second and third on Calhoun’s throwing error to the plate. Angels’ manager Brad Ausmus removed Skaggs from the game and brought in Jaime Barria to pitch. Piscotty’s fly ball to shallow left field was caught by Brian Goodwin. Goodwin’s throw slipped off his hand and Chapman scored. Davis went to third on the error. Laureano drove in Davis with a sac fly to left field. The Angels responded with two in their half of the fifth. Mike Trout hit his 16th bomb of the season with a man aboard to make it 6-3.

Piscotty hit a solo homer in the seventh, and the Angels scored one in the bottom of the ninth. The A’s won 7-4.

Game Notes: With the win, the A’s are now 31-31 for the year. The Angels drop to 30-33. Mike Fiers went six innings and allowed seven hits and three runs. He is now 5-3. Tyler Skaggs absorbed the loss and is now 4-6.

The A’s bullpen did their job Thursday night. Melvin used Ryan Buchter, Liam Hendriks, Lou Trivino, and Joakim Soria. Soria was nicked for a run in the ninth.

The A’s line score was seven runs, nine hits, and no errors. The Angels’ line was four runs, nine hits, and three costly errors.

Up Next: The A’s are on their way to Texas to play three with the Rangers starting Friday night. Lefty Brett Anderson (6-4, 3.95 ERA) goes for Oakland and Texas will send righty Lance Lynn (7-4, 4.50 ERA) to the hill.

Game time will be at 5:07 pm.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Adjusting to Hit Against the Shift

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Photo credit: chicagotribune.com

By: Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

During the last 10 years or so, the shift has taken over, which was something that was an oddity. Harry S .Truman was the President of the United States when during the summer of 1946, Cleveland Indians Manager Lou Boudreau witnessed three Ted Williams hit three home runs during the first game of a doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox. Which was very interesting because the shift never stopped a ball that went over the fence for a home run. But Boudreau was sick and tired of Williams pulling the ball to right field, so he decided to put four infielders between first and second. During that time only one player came to the plate with that defensive alignment. Therefore, it was called the “Ted Williams shift” for many years.

The Houston Astros are one of the teams that have used the shift the most. Nothing rare to see a left-handed hitter, that could be hitting .236 to see Yuliesky Gurriel at first-base, Jose Altuve the second baseman playing between first and second in short right field, shortstop Carlos Correa playing between second and first, to the right of Altuve and their regular third-baseman Alex Bregman playing just behind second base. Right-handed hitters also hit with the shift with frequency like Atlanta’s Freddy Freeman, and that is why he is a .300 hitter.

Matt Olson is he first-baseman for the Oakland Athletics. Olson is the 6’5″ and 230 lb cleanup hitter for the A’s. He has hit 142 home runs since his debut with the team in 2016. Yet, he has bunted looking for a base hit a few times this season to the opposite side of the shift for him the left side.

“Honestly, I think it’s always in play unless it’s kind of late in the game and I’m a tying or go-ahead run, something where driving the ball would be big for us,” said Olson.

And why not? I need to mention that there are major league players than can hit to the opposite field with frequency like I have recently seen more players with power like Olson trying to get on base with the bunt. A bunt hit today is breaking news and should be reported by Wolf “Breaking News” Blitzer on CNN. The bunt is healthy when used to be an integral part of the game, whose purpose is to get on base and score. Baseball historians say that the bunt was invented by Dickey Pearce, who played seven seasons with the New York Mutuals, Brooklyn Atlantics and St. Louis Brown Stockings. The bunt was not common until the 1880’s and then it was integrated in the 20th century as part of baseball strategy.

Thousands of home runs are hit in today’s game,specially with a “new”and lighter baseball it is common to see the balls going over the fences 420,430 feet or more. It would be ironic if the bunt is making a comeback but what is not ironic but a reality, is that power hitters with very low batting averages are trying to do more than just hit home runs and that is to bunt when they have the shift right in front.

Can the bunt have a revival in 2019? Maybe not, but we are seeing it with more frequency, and I do not mind especially when and if it works. Not only a sacrifice bunt, but a bunt for a base hit against the shift. Although home runs will never be boring and most fans love it.

The bunt? Let’s face it, it is a beautiful thing. By the way, the best I ever seen here in the Bay Area when it came to the art of bunting is Dagoberto “Blanco” Campaneris, a three-time World Champion shortstop for the Athletics from 1972-74.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez is a pioneer of Spanish broadcasting in the Bay Area and has been broadcasting in the major leagues since 1979 for radio and television. He is currently on KIQI 1010AM/990AM Oakland Athletics Spanish radio network, covering the Bay Area and Sacramento/Stockton. Amaury got his start with A’s owner Charlie O. Finley.