Tag: mlb

San Francisco Giants Podcast with Michael Duca: Pence finding his groove; Samardzija trying to find the right combination of pitches; plus more Giants news

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cumulus broadcasting file photo: San Francisco Giants pitcher Jeff Samardzija looks down at his glove, Samardzija gave up three home runs in Thursday pre season game to the San Diego Padres

On the San Francisco Giants Podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 Hunter Pence has really found his path, just like he said after he hit a grand slam earlier in the week in Thursday’s game as he tripled, singled, and double in consecutive innings.

#2 Is Jeff Samardzija struggling or just experimenting with pitches? He gave up four runs to the Padres, giving up three home runs in Thursday’s game.

#3 How impressed have you been thus far with Andrew McCuthen’s spring on Thursday? He hit a two-run single. He’s always noted for the RBI, and of course, he can go deep.

#4 Brandon Belt broke the deadlock off Pads pitcher Colten Brewer a seventh-inning blast. Talk about Belt’s spring and do you see him getting a lot of work at first base?

#5 Buster Posey says when he comes to the park, he’ll be mentally prepared to catch and only catch. He has not played first one game as of yet. Does that mean he’ll catch most of the spring, but he’ll play a little first or a lot more than he did last year?

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

Oakland A’s Podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Cotton comes back to Bay Area to have elbow looked at; changes within the A’s pitching rotation; Laureano has broken finger and will go back to minors

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Photo credit: @zesty_mlb

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg:

#1 Oakland A’s starter Jharel Cotton has been sent back to the Bay Area to have his elbow looked at and is going to have an MRI.

#2 If Cotton is out for a significant amount of time, the A’s are going with a rotation of Andrew Triggs, Daniel Gossett, Daniel Mengden, and Paul Blackburn. AJ Puk whose looked the best in the rotation could wind up the one pitcher on the A’s.

#3 The A’s outfielder Ramon Laureano has a broken finger after Giants pitcher Roberto Gomez threw in on his hands. Laureano will be out several weeks and will rejoin the A’s minor league club, the Nashville Sounds.

#4 Calling him long shot to make the A’s opening day roster, Ryan Dull, is suffering from shoulder soreness and recently has thrown a 20-pitch bull session.

#5 A’s pitcher Kendall Graveman allowed five hits and four runs in three-plus innings. When Kendall pitched to the Royals, he had given up a smash hit and a walk that started off the Royals’ fourth inning rally on Tuesday.

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

 

That’s Amaury’s Podcast, News and Commentary: Melvin says Lucroy on track to catch 115-120 games; benches empty between A’s and Giants could lead to a rivalry of sorts; Kerr has freedom of speech to speak out on gun control

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Photo credit: sfchronicle.com

On the Podcast with Amaury:

1. Amaury talks about catcher Jonathan Lucroy and says that this A’s team can really sneak up on teams.

2. Lucroy, one of the many free agents who were available, signed on for this season for $6.5 million, who manager Bob Melvin says will catch 115-120 games.

3. The A’s and Giants starting to show some preseason action. Giants pitcher Sam Dyson threw high and tight at the A’s Khris Davis on Monday. Two hitters later, they were bean, which forced the umpires to warn both benches. Could this be the beginning of a Bay Bridge rivalry?

4. Steve Kerr, the Golden State Warriors head coach, spoke at a Newark High School gym on Monday about gun control and how his father was murdered by gun violence and that he supports the student walk out and protest for gun control. Amaury says Kerr has a right to say what he wants and that he has the freedom of speech.

5. Amaury also talks about his Topps Basketball card from the 1990s when he was the Golden State Warriors’ Spanish play-by-play announcer.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the play-by-play Spanish talent for the Oakland A’s and does News and Commentary for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

 

San Francisco Giants Podcast with Morris Phillips: Buster has no problem with his ankle or swinging the bats; Pence gets break out slam; Giant legends pulling for the Baby Bull

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Photo credit: @BarryBonds

On the Giants podcast with Morris:

1 There was some concern that the Giants catcher Buster Posey would have ankle issues. but he answered that over the weekend, getting three hits including two doubles and left little doubt that his ankle and bat are back.

2 Giant outfielder Hunter Pence took a .056 clip into Sunday’s game struggling at the plate he got one that lept over the left centerfield fence for a grand slam. After the game Pence said his hitting has found a path and balance

3 Former Giant first baseman Orlando Cepeda was remembered by former Giant great Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, and Barry Bonds at the annual Spring Legends meeting, saying that Cepeda’s presence is sorely missed.

4 Giant pitcher Jeff Samardzija said he’s experimenting with several pitches for his 2018 repertoire. After having some rough spots in 2017, he wants an effective 2018.

5 Morris takes a look at the differences from last season’s club to this season’s team in Cactus League and says the Giants no doubt have improved.

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

 

A’s sign catcher Jonathan Lucroy to one-year, $6.5 million contract

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Monday, March 12, 2018

MESA, Ariz. – Free agent catcher Jonathan Lucroy landed with the Oakland Athletics on Monday morning after agreeing to terms on a one-year, $6.5 million contract, the team announced.

“We’ve been in touch for about a month,” A’s general manager David Forst said. “We kept the conversation going and ultimately, it got to the point where it became realistic and we became excited about it.”

To make room for Lucroy on the 40-man roster, the A’s designated left-handed pitcher Jario Labourt for assignment.

“It’s very positive for me,” Lucroy said. “I talked to Bob (Melvin, manager) and Kots (coach Mark Kotsay) about it. I know from calling some games against them, this is a pretty good lineup and (the A’s) have some pretty good arms on the mound.

“I think there’s a lot of positives to look forward to, and we can sneak up on some people. Our division is going to be good, but we’ll be right there with them.”

Lucroy, a two-time All-Star for Milwaukee in 2014 and 2016, split last season between the Texas Rangers and Colorado Rockies. After hitting .242 for the Rangers, Lucroy was traded to Colorado on July 30 for Pedro Gonzalez, and hit .310 in 46 games before becoming a free agent after the season.

The 31-year-old Lucroy is one of a growing list of free agents signing a one-year deal well into spring training.

“This is a good opportunity for me, both from a competitive standpoint and a playing time standpoint,” Lucroy said. “Any time you get a chance to compete for a division and the league, there’s a possibility to do that. And I’m happy and proud to put this uniform on.”

Lucroy figures to add a veteran presence and power to the otherwise youthful A’s lineup and will likely take over the starting duties behind the plate from incumbent Bruce Maxwell. He’s a .281 career hitter with 96 home runs and 458 RBIs over his eight-year career.

Lucroy, who finished fourth in the 2014 National League most valuable player voting, has also thrown out 177 base stealers, most by an MLB catcher over that span.

Labourt had not pitched this spring after Oakland claimed him off waivers on March 4 from Cincinnati, two days after he was picked up by the Reds on waivers from Detroit.

On Sunday, the A’s optioned Labourt and right-handed pitcher Lou Trivino to Triple-A Nashville. Oakland also reassigned left-handed pitchers Jeremy Bleich and Jarret Martin, right-handed pitchers Nolan Blackwood and Bobby Wahl, catcher Santiago Chavez and infielder Nick Noonan to their minor league camp.

The Athletics have 50 players in camp, including 39 on the 40-man roster (which is full) along with 11 non-roster invitees.

GIANTS UPDATE
The Giants, meanwhile, rank near the top of numerous Cactus League categories after 18 games. San Francisco leads in team batting average (.307), total bases (365) and on-base percentage (.371). Going into Monday’s game in Mesa, the Giants are also tied for second in home runs (34) and runs batted in (122).

Outfielder Mac Williamson is swinging one of those hot bats for the Giants. In 15 games, Williamson is hitting .412 with two doubles, two triples, four homers and 13 RBIs. Infielder Kyle Jensen, a non-roster invitee, has also had a strong spring for the Giants, with five home runs in 19 at-bats – most of any National League player.

The team reports that third baseman Evan Longoria is still listed as day-to-day with stiffness in his left heel and ankle. Catcher Hector Sanchez is dealing with a hamstring pull and hasn’t played since Feb. 28. He’s expected to possibly miss another week or two.

Following Monday’s game, the Giants optioned right-handed pitchers Tyler Herb, Pierce Johnson, Chase Johnson and Reyes Moronta; left-handed pitchers Steven Okert and D.J. Snelten; catcher Aramis Garcia and infielder Miguel Gomez to Triple-A Sacramento. San Francisco also reassigned right-handed pitchers Tyler Cyr, Jose Flores, Dereck Rodriguez and Madison Younginer; and infielder Alan Hanson to its minor league camp.

ORLANDO CEPEDA UPDATE
The Giants issued a brief update on the medical status of Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda, saying, “The Cepeda Family would like to thank the baseball family for its concern and well wishes for Orlando. We are pleased to report that Orlando continues to make significant progress every day and is showing major signs of improvement. Please continue to keep him in your thoughts and prayers.”

Cepeda, 80, was hospitalized in February after suffering cardiac arrest and falling in a parking lot, where he sustained a severe blow to the skull.

THE GAME
Jarrett Parker’s RBI double in the eighth helped San Francisco regain the lead and take a 6-5 Cactus League decision Monday over the Athletics. Orlando Calixte, who was hit by a pitch from A’s reliever Daniel Gossett (0-1), scored on the play.

Righthander Roberto Gomez (2-0) threw 1 1/3 innings to get the win; Joan Gregorio and Manny Parra each threw a scoreless inning. Parra earned his first save of the spring.

The Giants broke the game open in with five runs in the top of the fifth inning. Centerfielder Steve Duggar’s two-run home run – his fourth – and a two-out, three-run double by catcher Nick Hundley were the key blows off A’s reliever Ryan Buchter.

Oakland rightfielder Stephen Piscotty belted his second CL homer, a solo shot to left in the second inning off San Francisco starter Chris Stratton. It was also the first hit off the righthander, who struck out three and walked one in four innings.

The A’s closed to within 5-4 in the sixth on Franklin Barreto’s two-run homer off Sam Dyson, and tied the game at 5-5 on Jake Smolinski’s sacrifice fly to center.

Jharel Cotton, the Oakland starter, struck out five and walked three in four hitless innings. Piscotty was 2-for-2 before departing in the fifth.

Announced attendance was 8,539.

THE WEEK AHEAD
The Giants (10-7-2) face a Chicago Cubs split-squad in Mesa on Tuesday, then head to Peoria on Wednesday (Seattle) and Thursday (San Diego) before taking Friday off. The A’s split squad visits Scottsdale on Saturday while the Giants send their other split squad to Goodyear to face Cincinnati.

Oakland (8-7-2) heads to Glendale to face Kansas City on Tuesday, has an off day on Wednesday, returns to Hohokam Stadium for games on Thursday (Seattle), Friday (Cleveland), Saturday (Seattle – SS) and Sunday (Chicago White Sox).

TAGS
San Francisco Giants, Oakland Athletics, A’s, Jonathan Lucroy, Cactus League, Sports Radio Service.

San Francisco Giants Podcast with Michael Duca: Posey’s ankle just fine–rips two doubles on Friday; plus more Giants news

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Photo credit: @NBCSGiants

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael:

1 San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey is suffering an ankle injury that has kept him out of Thursday’s game. Posey had enough rest he looks regular season ready as he hit two doubles in Friday’s game.

2 Former Giant and current Texas Ranger pitcher Matt Moore offered to give his number 55 to incoming pitcher. Also, former Giant Tim Lincecum, who signed with the Rangers. Lincecum chose #44 instead and reflected on his late brother Sean, who passed away last month.

3 Lincecum sold his $2 million condo in downtown Seattle so he can go back to being a regular guy. Lincecum is now living in a house in Madison Park.

4 Giants pitcher Jeff Samardzija said he’s a big fan of Giants centerfielder Steve Duggar. Samardzija says Duggar “is fun to watch. What has been the biggest thrill about Duggar– his hitting or fielding?

5 San Francisco’s Mark Melancon has said he’s going through some discomfort when he throws. The Giants will be counting on Melancon to get healthy and close games.

Michael Duca does the San Francisco Giants podcasts each Friday for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Venezuela in a Huge Crisis That Also Affects Baseball

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Photo credit: @VoCommunism

By: Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

On March 8, 2018, ABC News said that as Venezuela’s economic crisis worsens, rising numbers are fleeing in a burgeoning refugee crisis that is drawing alarm across Latin America. Independent groups estimate that as many as three million to four million Venezuelans have abandoned their homeland in recent years, with several hundred thousand departing in 2017 alone.

Many of those migrants are arriving by foot in Colombia and landing in the Andean nation’s emergency rooms with urgent medical conditions that Venezuelan hospitals can no longer treat.

After the Dominican Republic, Venezuela has the most foreign-born players in the Major Leagues. In the past, I have spoken with players from Venezuela that told me how hard is to really concentrate on a game of baseball, which is their job and what they do, because of what has been happening in their motherland. The majority of them are disgusted, and some if you said you want to talk about it, they roll their eyes and tell you, we better not, because it is not pretty.

For years now, the Venezuelan government has followed the mold of that of Cuba. When Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and Fidel Castro of Cuba were alive, they were great friends and allies. Castro would visit Venezuela and Chavez would visit Cuba. The same political philosophy is shared by both governments.

According to the Colombian Red Cross, about 35,000 Venezuelans enter the country at the Simon Bolivar International Bridge each day.  Most of those dozens of thousands are entering by foot, and most of them to find food and work, The Colombian Red Cross also revealed that many arrive into their country after fainting on the journey, because they had nothing to eat.

News from Latin America usually does not make headline news here in the United States, but the current situation in Venezuela is getting into the alarming stages, and soon I am sure you will see and read more of that situation. Extremely sad what has happened in Venezuela.

Venezuelan oil production is collapsing, as the country sinks deeper into debt. For a long time, Venezuela was not only the biggest petroleum producers in Latin America, but also one of the top producers in the world.

I feel for all the Venezuelan players in Spring Training right now. During the last few years, I met a few that have sold their homes in Venezuela and moved to the United States. Can you blame them?

I hope and pray that some solution can come to the country and the good people of Venezuela whom right now are in a spiral. Maracaibo, where the great Luis Aparicio (Hall of Fame shortstop) was born, is one of the richest oil producing areas in the world.

Lake Maracaibo is one of the world’s richest and most centrally located petroleum-producing regions.

A recent report by Reuters said that Venezuelans reporting losing on average 11 kilograms (24 lbs) during the year 2017. We have seen in photographs and on Spanish-speaking television channels that people in Caracas go into trash cans searching for food. Caracas used to be one of the great cities in Latin America with a population of two million.

That’s Amaury’s Podcast, News, and Commentary: Texans and Dolphins won’t kick out players who didn’t stand for anthem; D-Backs bring back the golf cart; A’s Maxwell–How will he cope?

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Photo credit: @athletics_fanly

That’s Amaury’s Podcast (where you get all the latest):

1 Houston Texans had said according to the players agents that players who refused to stand for the anthem last season will not be signed for this season, the Texans later said the agents got it all wrong and that what they said was “false and without merit.” The Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross won’t make players stand for the anthem. Ross had said during a Jackie Robinson event honoring the former Brooklyn Dodger that the players have to stand for the anthem this season as he told the NY Daily News. Ross later said he never told the NY Daily News that the players had to stand for the anthem.

2 The Arizona Diamondbacks are bringing back the golf cart. Do you believe bringing pitchers in from the bullpen by cart will really speed up the game and make that much up in time?

3 Thing aren’t going well for Oakland Athletics’ catcher Bruce Maxwell during February 23’s Cactus League opener. He took a back swing by the Angels’ Jerry Marte after less than a week he got back into the lineup.

4 A’s need to stay healthy. How key will it be for the A’s to come into spring had some injuries with Matt Chapman, Jorge Mateo, Grant Holmes, Rento Nunez, and Sean Manea, who were day-to-day at some point this spring?

5 The A’s released 34-year-old Brandon Moss, who said he would consider retiring if a big league club wouldn’t sign him.

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

 

San Francisco Giants Podcast by Michael Duca: Melancon feels better and it’s assured he will have a better season; Sanchez will see a lot of Sacramento this season; Lots of flu this spring, but Pence will be just fine

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photo by eastbaytimes.com 2017 file photo: San Francisco Giants reliever Mark Melancon gets ready to deal as he prepares for 2018 in the hopes for a better season than last year

On the Giants podcast with questions for Michael:

1 Giants pitcher Mark Melancon says he’s feeling better and is confident he can finish games. Do you think he has it in the tank to have a better year this year?

2 The ninth inning is on the line. Giants manager Bruce Bochy is confident that Melancon, who signed with the Giants for $62 million for four years and finished with a 4.50 ERA last season, can do the job this season.

3 Melancon, who had pronator surgery, says he looks forward to returning to the mound in 2018 and wants to put 2017 in the rearview mirror.

4 Giants catcher Hector Sanchez is trying to land a roster spot, but with some of the National League’s top catching talent of Buster Posey, Nick Hundley, and Trevor Brown. it looks to be San Francisco’s top three catchers going into 2018, and Sanchez short of hitting like Lou Gehrig, this spring looks to be headed for a whole lot of Sacramento.

5 The flu has been an epidemic for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who had 20 players affected and had to say away from the clubhouse. The Giants more fortunate just to have outfielder Hunter Pence out with the sickness and is expected back soon. Michael says that the epidemic has hit it’s peak and should be tapering off in the coming weeks.

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

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: World Series Champion Houston Astros to Visit the White House

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Photo credit: @KPRC2

By: Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

The Houston Astros are scheduled and have accepted to visit the White House by invitation of President Donald Trump on March 12. The Astros defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in a very exciting seven-game World Series to win their first title ever. The team began with the name Colt .45s in 1962 and later changed their name to the Houston Astros in 1965 when they began playing in the Astrodome. In 2013, the Astros moved from the National League to the American League. The previous World Champion Chicago Cubs (2016) visited the White House by invitation of Trump on June 2017.


Recent visits from other sports: On October 2017, the Stanley Cup Champions (2016) Pittsburgh Penguins visited the White House by invitation of Trump, and on April 2017, Trump hosted the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots. The NBA champion Golden State Warriors did not attend this week, declining their invitation after winning the NBA title last season.

The first known official team meeting between a President and an organized baseball team at the White House was on August 30, 1865, when President Andrew Johnson met the Washington Nationals and the Brooklyn Atlantics. The Atlantics won the title of the National Association of Baseball Players. In 1924, the Washington Senators were the first professional baseball team to visit the White House hosted by President Calvin Coolidge.
As far as the other main three sports: the NBA was founded in 1946. In 1963, the Boston Celtics became the first NBA champions to visit the White House upon an invitation from President John F. Kennedy, a Massachusetts native. The NFL was founded in 1920. The Pittsburgh Steelers were the first Super Bowl champions to visit in 1980, when Jimmy Carter was President. The NHL was founded in 1917. The Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins broke the ice for the NHL as guests of President George H. W. Bush and were the first NHL team to visit the White House.

Baseball teams were the first to accept invitations to the White House, and since then, it has become an American tradition. The protocol is for the White House to extend an invitation to a team–usually a champion–the team can accept or decline, or the White House can also cancel a team visit for any reason, and do not have to explain why. The White House also can re-schedule a visit.

In the past, teams have accepted and visited, but some members of those teams have decided not to go. It is usually left to the individual decision, and that is the way it should be. Nobody should be forced to attend or feel pressure not to attend. Athletes are also protected by the First Amendment. After all, we’re still a country made of individuals, not groups, at least not until the robots take over. Is it that important? Not at all, more symbolic, and in good sportsmanship than anything else, and nobody should lose any sleep over it. I sure don’t. It is like throwing the Ceremonial First Pitch at a baseball game, or playing or singing the National Anthem prior to a sporting event. It is just another photo-op.

It is said that President Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 clemency to a turkey recorded in an 1865 dispatch by Washington reporter Noah Brooks, was the origin for the pardoning ceremony. This might be the oldest ceremonial tradition at the White House. To this day, no turkey has demonstrated against the pardon.