Tag: New York Mets

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: MLB The Three biggest Failures are the three biggest Payrolls

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Baltimore Orioles third baseman Gunnar Henderson is unable to stop an RBI double by Colorado Rockies’ Elias Diaz that scored Charlie Blackmon from first base during the third inning at Camden Yards in Baltimore on Fri Aug 25, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

With approximately 30 to 35 games left for most teams this season, here are the three teams with the biggest payrolls this year and their records today.

1-New York Mets 60-71 in the cellar, 2-New York Yankees, 62-69 in the cellar, 3-San Diego Padres, 61-70 in penultimate place. The chances of any of these teams for the postseason is at best slim and none for real, as they would have to play at an .800 winning percentage clip the rest of the way. Can we say that money is not the key for a winning team?

Yes and No, because at the end is a combination, a balancing-act for front offices to draft, trade and buy players at the same time. A team most draft and develop well, make trades to improve their roster and in some cases open the bank and pay the huge salaries. But money alone is not the solution in the most difficult sport.

The Baltimore Orioles are leading the American League East, with the #29 payroll, only the Oakland A’s have a smaller payroll, the A’s do not really count because their owner has “De-funded the Team” . But, how have the Orioles done it?

They have the best minor league system today. As a matter of fact, this 2023 season the Orioles have the best minor league system for the fourth consecutive year. The best example is Gunnar Henderson, which was one of the eight total guys in the Top 100 prospects, Henderson is a regular in the young and exciting Baltimore Orioles lineup this season.

They have players waiting in the minors, like the highly rated Jackson Holliday, the son of ex major league All Star Matt Holliday. Jackson Holliday is the #1 prospect in Major League Baseball, currently playing shortstop and second base at AA level affiliate, Bowie Baysox in Maryland.

The Birds from Baltimore success was not instant. Here are the last three years record:

2021: 52-100, 2022: 83-79, today the Orioles have a 81-49 record. which is the second best record among all 30 MLB teams, only the Atlanta Braves with 84-45 leading the NL East by miles have a better record in baseball.

The Yankees, Mets and Padres will have a very interesting off-season, the Padres might just tweak their roster, my hope is they keep their manager Bob Melvin, but the two New York teams, only God knows what their management is going to do.

Mets owner Steve Cohen is the richest owner in baseball, but he could not buy the title this year, he is insatiable for high prize talent, and will make a run at Shohei Ohtani. The Yankees? Well there is always next season for their 28 World Series title.

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

San Francisco Giants day off report: Giants prepare for Bay Bridge Series vs. A’s

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By: Mary Anne

The San Francisco Giants took a much-needed day off after winning three of four games against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Oracle Park and seven out of nine at home. Here’s what you need to know.

A Crosstown Rivalry
The Giants (61-49, 2nd NL West) are preparing for the upcoming Bay Bridge Series with the Oakland Athletics (30-80, 5th AL West) at the Oakland Coliseum this weekend. The first game will be on Saturday at 4:07 pm Pacific, while the second will be on Sunday at 1:07 pm Pacific. The starting pitchers for both games are TBD.

Notes
Giants right-handed pitcher Camilo Doval (3-3, 2.47 ERA) made his MLB-leading 33rd save in Thursday’s game against the Diamondbacks.

Giants fans can retweet this tweet to win an Alaska Airlines trip for two as part of the Giants’ Happy Flight Sweepstakes. More information can be found here.

History Matters
The Giants and St. Louis Cardinals will play a regular-season game at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama.

Rickwood Field, the former home of the Negro League’s Birmingham Black Barons, where former Giants star Willie Mays once played, will host these two historic teams on June 20, 2024, at 4:00 pm Pacific on FOX. Rickwood Field’s the oldest professional ballpark in the United States.

The Giants-Cardinals was scheduled around Juneteenth and will include a tribute to Mays, a Birmingham, Ala. native and the oldest living Hall of Famer at 92, and the Negro Leagues. Mays, better known as the Say Hey Kid, played for the Black Barons in 1948 before his professional career with the New York/San Francisco Giants from 1951-52 and 1954-72 and the New York Mets from 1972-73.

Headline Sports podcast with Bruce Magowan: MLB owners not happy about consequences of A’s relocation; Scherzer and Verlander moves; plus more news

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New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner is reportedly one of the MLB owners who is not happy about the relocation of the Oakland A’s to Las Vegas and some of the reasons behind it (AP file photo)

On Headline Sports podcast with Bruce Magowan:

#1 Bruce, it was reported this week by Sports Business Journal that there are number MLB clubs that are not happy about the Oakland A’s relocation to Las Vegas for various reasons, that their still going to be revenue sharing, going lose gate revenue moving from the sixth largest market to the 40th size market, and relocation fee waved so the next owner who wants to move doesn’t have to pay a relocation fee.

#2 Bad faith negotiating has been a complaint about how A’s owner John Fisher who was ten percent of the way towards deal with the City of Oakland but broke off the deal and said he had a binding deal in Vegas.

#3 Bruce, the New York Mets are big time sellers and before the trade deadline first David Robertson was deal to the Miami Marlins and then pitcher Max Scherzer wanted to meet with the Mets brass and got a deal out of New York to the Texas Rangers, then 48 hours later the Justin Verlander was traded to the Houston Astros. Is this a matter of the Mets trying to unload their humongous payroll or they just want to have a clean slate and rebuild the club again.

#4 Bruce, we talked about the San Francisco Giants and their chances of chasing the first place Los Angeles Dodgers, you mentioned they need the hitting, they’ve cooled off since their ten game win streak, they really will depend on Alex Cobb and Logan Webb for pretty much the rest of the way.

#5 Turning to football Bruce, the 49ers have four quarterbacks in camp with three jobs open. Brock Purdy pretty much looks like a lock for first string, but second string could be interesting with Trey Lance and Sam Darnold and the four quarterback in camp whose looked pretty good is former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Brandon Allen.

Bruce Magowan does Headline Sports for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB The Show podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Will “Sell the team” become a national rallying cry to save the A’s in MLB parks?; What a Mets rebuild would look like now; plus more news

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Oakland A’s and Los Angeles Dodgers fans stood up to in protest of the A’s relocation to Las Vegas in the top of the fifth inning at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Mon Aug 1, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the MLB podcast with Stephen Ruderman:

#1 Top story had to be last night’s game in Los Angeles between the Oakland A’s and the Los Angeles Dodgers when A’s and Dodgers fans alike stood up in the top of the fifth inning while the A’s were at bat and chanted “Sell the team” another message loud and clear to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, the owners and A’s owner John Fisher expressing how opposed they are about the Oakland A’s relocation to Las Vegas. Will “Sell the team” become a national rallying cry at MLB parks?

#2 With the New York Mets it started with Max Scherzer expressing his discontent about the teammate and pitcher David Robertson being traded to the Miami Marlins and that he wanted a meeting with the Mets brass and Scherzer got traded to the Texas Rangers. Then Justin Verlander two days later was dealt to the Houston Astros. Are the Mets just trying to get rid of payroll or they know they can’t win even with such superstars on the payroll.

#3 More Astros news starter to the end Framber Valdez threw a no hitter last night against the Cleveland Guardians a pretty much respected offensive team giving up just one walk, one batter short of a perfect game. Valdez’ no hit bid is MLB’s third no hitter of the season.

#4 Can the Los Angeles Angels make the post season with Shohei Ohtani surviving the trade deadline and the Angels waiting for outfielder Mike Trout to return to action. Ohtani was on the trade rumor market for a time but owner Art Moreno but the kibosh on that as the Angels are destined to try and make post season with their superstars.

#5 The Angels also added infielder CJ Cron and outfielder Randal Grichuk two right handed hitters from the Colorado Rockies. Do you see this improving the Angels line up in the stretch drive?

Join Stephen for the MLB podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB All-Star Game: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. defeats Randy Arozarena 25-23 in MLB All-Star Home Run Derby

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The Toronto Blue Jays Vladimir Guerrero Jr waves to the T Mobile Field crowd in Seattle during the 2023 All Star Game Home Run Derby during introductions. Guerrero Jr was the winner for this year’s home run derby on Mon Jul 10, 2023 (AP News photo)

By: Mary Anne

The 2023 MLB All-Star Home Run Derby, better known as the most anticipated baseball event of the summer, got underway at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on Monday.

Seattle Mariners star outfielder Julio Rodríguez, also known as J-Rod, was especially popular with the crowd in Seattle. Julio Rodríguez lost in the finals against then-Washington Nationals outfielder Juan Soto last summer but he became the first slugger to record multiple 30-homer rounds in a single derby.

Other sluggers included Toronto Blue Jays first baseman and designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts, Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena, New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso, Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman, Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr., and Texas Rangers outfielder Adolis García.

Bracket
#1 Luis Robert Jr. vs. #8 Adley Rutschman
#4 Adolis García vs. #5 Randy Arozarena
#6 Mookie Betts vs. #3 Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
#7 Pete Alonso vs. #2 Julio Rodríguez

Round 1
Arozarena defeated García 24-17.

Robert Jr. defeated Rutschman 28-27.

Guerrero Jr. defeated Betts 26-11.

Rodríguez defeated Alonso 41-21.

Round 2
Arozarena defeated Robert Jr. 35-22.

Guerrero Jr. defeated Rodríguez 21-20.

Final
Guerrero Jr. defeated Arozarena 25-23.

Up Next
The American League and the National League will battle each other in the 2023 MLB All-Star Game at T-Mobile Park on Tuesday at 5:00 pm Pacific.

NY’s Verlander in return shuts down SF in 4-1 win; Series even at 1-1

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The San Francisco Giants Luis Matos makes the catch against the centerfield padding in the bottom of the second inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field in New York on Sat Jul 1, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

NEW YORK. — San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Anthony DeSclafani was retired after throwing a season-low three innings and allowing the New York Mets to score three homers in an inning, and the visiting team lost 4-1 at Citi Field on Saturday afternoon.

Good things came in threes for the Mets in the third.

Francisco Alvarez hit a home run to center field to put the Mets up 1-0. Immediately after, Brandon Nimmo homered to right field to boost New York up 2-0. Then Francisco Lindor hit a homer to center field to expand the lead to 3-0.

“I made mistakes and I just couldn’t put them away. Got the two strikes with them and yeah just couldn’t put them away, unfortunately,” said DeSclafani of the three-homer inning. “I made bad pitches and they torched them.”

Giants manager Gabe Kapler said that DeSclafani “wasn’t effective” on Saturday.

“We would’ve liked him to have seen him get through five innings for us and (Sean) Manea was prepared to give up some length and the lineup was set up for him to give us that length.”

In the fourth inning, Tommy Pham hit a ground ball to left field and Pete Alonso scored, putting the Mets up 4-0.

It took the Giants until the seventh inning to score a run. Thairo Estrada grounded into a double play and J.D. Davis scored, making it 4-1 Mets.

Kapler said that Mets starting pitcher Justin Verlander “pitched a phenomenal game” giving up five hits, striking out six and not allowing an earned run in seven innings.

“We weren’t able to score runs early on and one thing that I’m noticing is we’re putting together pretty good at-bats later in the game. Historically we do a really nice job in the first couple of innings in the game and right now we’re just a little short in that regard,” Kapler said. “The early parts of games are seemingly not as competitive as they can be and need to be for us to be a great team.”

The series is tied at 1-1 and first pitch for the third and final game is 4:10 p.m. PT.

Bailey goes deep for 3 run shot puts Giants over Mets 5-4 in nail biter

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The San Francisco Giants Patrick Bailey connects for an eighth inning home run to take the lead over the New York Mets at Citi Park in New York on Fri Jun 30, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

NEW YORK. — In his first game in the Big Apple, Patrick Bailey hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning to boost the San Francisco Giants to a 5-4 victory over the New York Mets at Citi Field on Friday night.

“Today was flat-out excellent,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said of the first in the three-game series. “So definitely fair to get excited about tonight.”

In the first inning, Jeff McNeil doubled on a line drive to left fielder Blake Sabol and Francisco Lindor scored, putting the Mets up 1-0.

Brandon Crawford singled on a line drive to center field and Sabol scored, tying the game at 1-1 in the second. In the bottom of the inning, Omar Narvaez hit a sacrifice fly to center field and Tommy Pham scored, allowing the Mets to regain a 2-1 lead.

But the Giants tied it again in the fifth inning when Wilmer Flores hit a home run to center field. San Francisco challenged a stadium boundary call but the call on the field was upheld. McNeil doubled to left field on fan interference and Brandon Nimmo scored, putting the Mets up 3-2.

It was a Giants fan responsible for the interference, and Blake Sabol went over to console him and gave him a fist pump.

“I felt bad for the kid there you know, he had a whole stadium booing him,” said Sabol. “I think he was just a kid excited at a baseball game.”

Giants starting pitcher Alex Cobb said Sabol is “a puppy, he’s got a big heart”.

In the sixth inning, Pham hit a homer to left field and expanded the Mets’ lead to 4-2.

Then Bailey hit his big homer to give San Francisco the lead. That wasn’t all he contributed, though. In the ninth in the catcher position, Bailey threw to shortstop Casey Schmitt as Starling Marte was caught stealing.

“Probably one of his quicker moves and fortunate the fast ball off, I was able to get a good throw,” Bailey said of the play.

The Giants (46-36) got their eighth win of the season when trailing at the end of the seventh inning. Meanwhile, the Mets (36-46) suffered their 13th blown lead loss this month which is the most in the majors in June.

Game two takes place on Saturday with first pitch at 1:10 p.m. PT. Giants right-handed pitcher Anthony DeSclafani (4-7, 4.28 ERA) is set to face right-handed pitcher Justin Verlander (2-4, 4.11 ERA).

Giants Ninth Inning Rally Falls Short Against Toronto Losing 2-1

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Toronto Blue Jays starter Chris Bassitt was dealing agianst the San Francisco Giants. Bassitt went six innings, three hits and 12 strikeouts at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Thu Jun 29, 2023 (@ESPNStatsInfo photo)

Giants Ninth Inning Rally Falls Short Against Toronto Losing 2-1

By Barbara Mason

Thursday evening the San Francisco Giants (45-36) finished off their three game series against the Toronto Blue Jays (45-37) and were defeated by the Blue Jays 2-1.

The winner the Blue Jays came out on top in this three game series winning it two games to one.

Going into the sixth inning neither team was able to put up much offense. In the bottom of the inning everything would change for the Blue Jays. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. would knock a Keaton Winn pitch out of the yard with Brandon Belt on base and Toronto took a 2-0 lead.

This game would go into the ninth inning with San Francisco’s last chance to rally. Patrick Bailey doubled and Blake Sabol singled him home, the score now 2-1. With two outs the Giants were down to their final strike with Brandon Crawford at the plate. The Giants rally in the ninth inning came up one run short.

San Francisco had five hits in this game but it was the Guerrero two run home run that made the difference in this game. This was a bit of a pitching duel between Keaton Winn and Chris Bassitt. Bassitt had been struggling but he came to play in this game giving up only three hits with 12 punch outs in an outstanding start through six innings. Winn allowed three hits giving up two runs and only three strikeouts. This was his first start.

Post game notes: The Giants took game one 3-0 and Toronto was the victor in game two with a 6-1 win to tie up the series. Thairo Estrada was a huge factor for the Giants in the game one win with two RBI’s handing San Francisco their 13th win in their last 15 games.

In Game Two the Blue Jays George Springer set the tone with the first of four Toronto doubles putting the stops on the Giants ten game road winning streak. Springer’s double came in the first inning and going into the second inning the Blue Jays had a 5-0 lead. The Jays came away a 6-1 winner on Wednesday night.

The Giants now travel to New York to take on the Mets who are having terrible struggles. They have only won three of their last 12 games and have fallen into fourth place in the NL East with a record of 36-44. They are 17 games out of first place. Alex Cobb will take the mound for San Francisco. He has a 5-2 win/ loss record and a 3.09 ERA. Carlos Carrasco will get the nod for the Mets with a 2/3 win/loss record and a 6.19 ERA. First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 PM.

MLB The Show podcast with Charlie O: MLB hoping to make big European market in roads for London series this weekend; plus much more news

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Chicago Cubs’ Seiya Suzuki practices during a training session ahead of the baseball match against St. Louis Cardinals at the MLB World Tour London Series, in London Stadium on Fri Jun 22, 2023. (AP News photo)

MLB The Show podcast with Charlie O:

#1 The London Series is underway with the Chicago Cubs and the St Louis Cardinals matching up this weekend. It’s got to be an important series with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred in attendance as he’s trying to boost the MLB brand in Europe.

#2 The Tampa Bay Rays Wander Franco who has expressed frustration by breaking a bat in the Rays dugout and not running out ground balls was sent home on Thursday night and benched on Friday night was back in the line up on Saturday and admitted that the organization is trying to get control of his frustrations and he admitted making errors that got away from him. Franco is hitting .287 and is in the second season of his $182 million contract.

#3 Charlie what can you say about the Cincinnati Reds that hasn’t already been said. The Red Legs are on a 12 game win streak and Elly De La Cruz’s cycle on Friday night added to the success the club has been having. The Reds are in first in the NL Central by 1.5 games on second place the Milwaukee Brewers.

#4 The Los Angeles Angels enhanced their infield up the middle acquiring Eduardo Escobar from the New York Mets for pitchers Coleman Crow and Landon Marceaux, who were 19 and 20th in the Angels system. Escobar’s $9 million contact will be picked up by the Mets at the pro rated MLB minimum. 2024 is an option year for Escobar.

#5 MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred who is attending the London Series this weekend as we spoke about earlier said that one big turnout for the Oakland A’s on Tue Jun 23 at the Oakland Coliseum doesn’t solve a “decade of inaction” referring to the fans reverse boycott and is waiting for the A’s to submit their relocation application in preparation for an owners vote that requires a 75% yes vote. Eight no votes can turn the tide for the A’s moving to Vegas.

Join Charlie O for the MLB podcasts Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB podcast with Charlie O: Rookie one of the few bright spots for A’s; Twins Kepler out with hamstring; plus more

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Oakland Athletics’ Brent Rooker celebrates after hitting the game-winning, three-run home run against the Texas Rangers during the 10th inning at Oakland Coliseum on Fri May 11, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the MLB podcast with Charlie O:

#1 The Oakland A’s Brent Rooker hitting .319, 19 runs, 36 hits, and 11 home runs and won the AL Player of the Week a couple weeks back and is one of the very few bright spots for the 2023 A’s who are on a pace to possibly catch the 1962 New York Mets in terms of wins and loses.

#2 The Port of Oakland announced that last Friday was the last day for the A’s to extend their attempt to make Howard Terminal a reality. There were members of the public speaking against the project and those for it but the odds are dimming for any chance that the A’s will stay in Oakland or would you say that ship sailed already.

#3 The Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler has entered the IL for the second time in 2023 this time with a left hamstring strain. Kepler 30, was running up the first base line when he pulled up on Thursday against the San Diego Padres.

#4 Charlie, this has not been the season for New York Mets pitcher Max Scherzer who had earlier been suspended for ten days for using a sticky substance then suffering from neck spasms. Scherzer missed a turn because of the spasms Tuesday against Cincinnati.

#5 The Tampa Bay Rays Drew Rasmussen is yet one in several Ray players who have gone on the IL. Rasmussen is one of the most recent for a flexor strain the injury will put Rasmussen on he IL for two months. Rasmussen is hoping to avoid Tommy John surgery.

Join Charlie O for the MLB podcast Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com