Tag: New York Mets

Giants score five in eighth inning to pull off another incredible comeback win in Pittsburgh 7-6

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San Francisco Giants Jorge Soler (2) greets Matt Chapman (26) who slugged a top of the eighth inning three run home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on Thu May 23, 2024 (AP News photo)

Thursday, May 23, 2024

PNC Park

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

San Francisco Giants 7 (25-26)

Pittsburgh Pirates 6 (23-28)

Win: Luke Jackson (2-1)

Loss: Hunter Stratton (0-1)

Save: Tyler Rogers (1)

Time: 2:45

Attendance: 23,162

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants have done it again, as they came back late for the second day in a row, today with a five-run top of the eighth inning, to beat the Pirates 7-6 and take the series on Thursday.

Following their worst loss of the season Tuesday night, in which the Giants blew a 6-2 lead in the bottom of the ninth and lost the game, they bounced back with their biggest win of the season Wednesday night, as they came back from down 5-0 to win it.

As the Giants tried to take the series Thursday afternoon, they were up against a challenge, as they had to go up against the Pirates’ young pitching phenom, Paul Skenes. Skenes was making this third-career big league start. Skenes was 1-0 in his first two starts with a 2.70 ERA. He also pitched six no-hit innings in his last start on May 17 against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Luis Matos led off the ballgame Thursday, and he hit a ground ball the opposite way into right field to start things off. No rally would metastasize, however, as LaMonte Wade grounded into a double play, and Thairo Estrada swung out swinging to end the innings.

On the pitching front, this would be a bullpen game for the Giants, and left-hander Erik Miller was tasked to be the opener. Unfortunately for Miller, he was greeted to a rude welcome by Andrew McCutchen, who hit a home run to left-center to start off the bottom of the first.

Miller proceeded to retire the side in order after McCutchen’s home run, and Skenes set the Giants down 1-2-3 in the top of the second. Nick Gonzales led off the bottom of the second with a triple to center, but Miller was able to retire the next two guys he faced without the run scoring. Bob Melvin then pulled Miller for Mason Black, who got Joey Bart to ground out to short and end the inning, as the Giants got out of it unscathed.

Skenes pitched a scoreless top of the third, and Black, a 1-2-3 bottom of the third.

The Giants were poised to break through against Skenes get on the board in the top of the fourth. Estrada walked with one out, and Matt Chapman singled him in over to third. Jorge Soler came up and hit a ground ball to third that could have been a double play ball to end the inning, but after Jared Triolo threw to second-baseman Nico Gonzales to get Chapman at second, Gonzales was unable to get a throw off to first, and Estrada scored to tie the game.

The Giants tied it up, but their good fortunes would not last long. Connor Joe walked to start the bottom of the fourth, and O’Neil Cruz struck out looking for the first out of the inning. Black then walked Gonzales and hit Triolo to load the bases for Joey Bart, and of course the former Giant would burn them, as he hit a grand slam to straightaway center to stake the Pirates out to a 5-1 lead.

It surely great for the Giants’ 2018 first round and second-overall draft pick, who struggled to get a footing in San Francisco, but who has found a bit of success since being dealt over to the Pirates on April 2 after making the Giants’ opening day roster but not appearing in a game.

Curt Casali singled with one out in the top of the fifth, but Skenes pitched another scoreless inning. Black ran back into trouble in the bottom of the fifth after giving up back-to-back singles to McCutchen and former Giants’ farmhand Bryan Reynolds. Connor Joe lined out to right, and Black was pulled for left-hander Taylor Roger, who struck Cruz swinging and got Gonzales to fly out to left to end the inning with the Giants’ still trailing 5-1.

Skenes pitched one last scoreless inning in the top of the sixth, and his day was done after giving up a run and striking out three. His ERA is now at 2.25.

Joey Bart looked to do even more damage to his former team with a two-out double off Rogers in the bottom of the sixth. Ji-hwan Bae then tried to sneak in a bunt hit, but he ended up bunting the ball right to Wade at first to end the inning.

Jose Hernandez came in for Skenes in the top of the seventh and got Ryan McKenna to fly out to right to start the inning. Heliot Ramos then hooked a home run down the left field line, his second of the year, to make it 5-2.

Luke Jackson came in for Rogers in the bottom of the seventh, and his struggles continued. With one out, the Pirates got the run right back when Reynolds hit a home run out to right-center, all the way to the back of the stadium, to make it 6-2.

Hunter Stratton, who replaced Hernandez with two outs in the top of the seventh, was back out for the eighth, and the Giants were more than ready to pounce. Wade and Estrada singled to start the inning, and Matt Chapman hit a home run to left-center to suddenly make it a one-run game at 6-5.

It was the eighth home run of the year now the now-white-hot Chapman, who ties Thairo Estrada for the team lead in home runs. Chapman also ended up hitting a home run in all three games of this series.

The Giants were not done yet. Jorge Soler immediately followed up Chapman’s home run with a double to center to put the tying run in scoring position. Wilmer Flores then singled the other way to right to score Soler and tie the game, and for the second day in a row, the Giants came back to tie the game.

Now, the Giants were looking to take the lead. Ramos flew out to right, and then Pirates Manager Derek Shelton pulled Stratton for the veteran left-handed flame thrower, Aroldis Chapman.

Patrick Bailey was at the plate for the Giants, and while he was up, Marco Luciano, who came in to pinch-run for Flores, took second on a wild pitch by Chapman and took third on a passed ball. Brett Wisely then came up with two outs and lined a base-hit up the middle to center field to knock in Luciano and give the Giants the lead.

Randy Rodriguez, who pitched two perfect innings in relief Wednesday night, earned the trust of his manager, Bob Melvin, to pitch the bottom of the eighth in a one-run game. Rodriguez did not disappoint, as he threw a 1-2-3 inning.

David Bednar pitched a 1-2-3 top of the ninth for the Pirates, and since Camilo Doval pitched each of the last two nights, Melvin decided to go with the submariner, Tyler Rogers, to try and close out the game with finesse. Bae reached on another error by Luciano at short to start the inning. Fortunately for Rogers and Luciano, McCutchen popped out to short, and Bae was thrown out trying to steal second. Reynolds singled to left with two outs to extend the game, but Joe popped out to Wade in foul territory to end it, and the Giants held on to win another big game.

Luke Jackson got the win despite giving up the home run to Reynolds. He was the pitcher for the Giants when they scored five runs to take the lead in the eighth, so he got the win. That’s baseball. Hunter Stratton took the loss for Pittsburgh, and Tyler Rogers picked up his first save of the season.

The Giants are back to within just a game of .500 for the first time since April 28, as they improve to 25-26. They will now head to New York, where they will take on the Mets for three at Citi Field in Queens starting Friday night. Starting pitcher for the Giants Kyle Harrison (4-1 ERA 3.60) will be on the mound and for the Mets Christian Scott (0-2, ERA 4.32), as the Giants will try and get back to .500 for the first time since March 31. First pitch will be at 7:10 p.m. in New York, 4:10 p.m. back in San Francisco.

News and Notes:

Prior to the game, Blake Snell was placed on the paternity list, as his girlfriend, Haeley, is preparing to give berth. Nick Avila, who was sent down to Double-A Richmond when Snell was activated off the IL yesterday, was called back up.

Stephen Ruderman is a MLB staff writer at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Was Snell damaged goods before coming to San Francisco?

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell (left) departs from the mound after being lifted in the top of the fifth inning by manager Bob Melvin (right) against the Arizona Diamondback on Fri Apr 19, 2024 at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 Michael, pitcher Blake Snell had been rocked in his last two outings in Tampa Bay on Apr 14 giving up six hits and seven runs and on Apr 19 against Arizona giving up nine hits and five runs. He’s on the 15 day IL for an adductor strain. Watching him in his last start was there any indication to you he was in any kind of physical struggle or discomfort?

#2 Snell comes to the Giants on a two year deal for $62 million. He was the touted free agent in the off season and during spring training signing with the Giants during pre season. It was said that another MLB team didn’t want Snell and he was damaged goods. How much confidence did general manager Pete Putila have in signing a healthy Snell?

#3 In Wednesday’s matinee the New York Mets avoided getting swept by the Giants with a 8-2 win. After Snell’s scratch it turned into a bullpen game with Ryan Walker getting the start after pitching one inning of shutout ball he was lifted for Sean Hjelle who gave up two hits and three earned runs and reliever Landen Roupp faired no better giving up three hits and three earned runs in one and one third innings of work.

#4 The Mets Francisco Lindor went yard twice against Giant pitching with two home runs and helped the Mets end their three game losing streak. The Mets had lost the first two games of the three game series.

#5 The Pittsburgh Pirates come calling for the first of three games against the Giants on Friday night at Oracle Park. The Pirates are coming off a series with the Milwaukee Brewers and will start Quinn Priester (0-1 ERA 8.31) for the Giants Kyle Harrison 2-1 (ERA 5.00) for a 7:15pm PDT first pitch.

Join Michael for the Giants podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Mets Lindor takes Giant pitching deep twice in 8-2 win at Oracle

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New York Mets hitter Francisco Lindor slugs one of his two two run home runs in the top of the third inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Apr 24, 2024 (AP News photo)

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

New York (13-11). 021 300 002. 8 10 1

San Francisco (12-14). 000 000 101. 2. 8 1

Time:2:50

Attendance: 30,183

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–The Giants’ progress towards contention was proceeding at a Snell’s pace when the team announced that the pace setter, signed as a free agent late in spring training and today’s probable starter, had suffered a groin pull in his outing last Friday and been placed on the 15 day injured list, retroactive to the day of his injury. We should have suspected something like this when San Francisco bought the contract of the right handed reliever Mitch White on Saturday. Without adding him to the roster until yesterday.

The immediate result of this unfortunate turn of events was that this afternoon’s game between the heirs of the late New York Giants, which San Francisco lost, 8-2, was a bullpen game in which the home team failed in its bid to reach the .500 mark was thwarted.

Their opener was Ryan Waker, who hurled a 20 pitch scoreless first. He was followed by Sean Hjelle (2-2/3 innings, 3 runs, all earned, on three hits; Landen Loup (1-1/3 IP, three hiits, runs, and earned runs); Erik Miller (one inning, one. strikeout; Luke Jackson (one inning, one hit); Tyler Rogers (one inning, one hit); and new kid on the block, Mitch White (one inning, the ninth, two hits, and two runs, both of which came on Francisco Lindor’s second home run to right of the afternoon). Hjelle was the losing pitcher, and now is 0-1, 5.79.

The Mets entrusted their fortunes to a familiar figure on both sides of the bay, Sean Manaea,who was 1-1, 4.12 for his new team on Jamaica Bay. He held the Giants scoreless for 4-2/3 innings, but left two men on base for his successor, Reed Garrett.

Garrett got the out, and Manaea’s line for the day read no runs on four hits and four walks, with a half a dozen strike outs. He was not economical as shown by his 101 pitches, 58 of which were counted as strikes. He didn’t hurl enough innings to earn the win, but he did bring his ERA down to 3.33. Reed Garrett relieved him in the bottom of the fifth and was credited with the win, improving his season’s record to4-0, 0.71).

New York drew first blood in the top of the third on Brandon Nimmo’s one out walk and Francisco Lindor’s fourth home run of the season, a 382 shot over the right field wall, on an 0-2 knuckle curve by Hjelle. It came on an 0-2 count. The visitors’ stretched their lead in the fourth on Tyrone Taylor’s authoritative 406 foot blast off another of Hjelle’s knuckle curves. A fly out and an infield single later, and Hjelle was toast, replaced by Roupp.

Although Roupp stopped the bleeding in the fourth, the top of the fifth witnessed a hemorrhage of runs, starting with a two out walk to Pete Alonso, and followed by a hit batter, a walk, and a two run double by Tyrone Taylor, and Jeff McNeil’s single, and San Francisco was looking up at a six run New York lead.

The Giants finally managed to get someone to cross the plate when in their half of the seventh. Tyler Fitzgerald parked his first home run of the year, a 381 foot blast into the left center field bleachers off Garrett. who, after fanning Ahmed and Flores, surrendered a double to Conforto, and then was yanked in favor of Adam Ottavino, who caught Jorge Soler looking at a third strike.

After Lindor unloaded his ninth inning blast to make it 8-1, the Mets’ Edwin Díaz relieved Ottavino, who pitched a bizarre bottom of the ninth that featured Wilmer Flores getting thrown out at second trying to stretch a single with his team seven runs behind and Alonso’s overthrowing an soft to Díaz, covering first for what would have been the final out, which allowed LaMonte Wade, Jr., who had entered the game as a pinch hitter in the seventh and had eeked out an infield single in the ninth, to score the Giants’ second and final run.

The Giants have the day off Thursday and will start a three game series against Pittsburgh, here at Oracle Park on Friday the 26th at 7:15 in evening, with Kyle Harrison (2-1, 5.00) facing an as yet unnamed Pirate.

Webb extends scoreless streak to 19 innings in Giants 5-1 win over Mets at Oracle

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb has now extended his shutout streak to 19 innings against the New York Mets on Tue Apr 23, 2024 at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP News photo)

Tuesday, April 23, 2024

New York (12-11). 000 000 002. 1. 9. 0

San Francisco (12-13). 000 003. 02x. 5. 8. 0

Time: 2:10

Attendance: 25,453

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–Just before the start of the ninth inning of Monday night’s thriller between the Mets and the Giants, the lights went off in Oracle Park, and the fans were treated to a giant screen video extravaganza extolling the prowess of San Francisco’s closer, Camilo Doval.

It would have been a great advertisement for a time travel adventure film, taking us back to the days of the Roman Coliseum, where a decaying empire distracted the masses with bread and circuses. When the lighting returned and Doval made his real life entrance, his performance didn’t live up to the hype—what could?—although it was exciting.

But that was because Doval’s performance wasn’t very good. He got through the inning without allowing an earned run, but that was because the runner had reached base on a fielding error … by Camiilo Doval, who also unleashed a wild pitch and turned a 5-1 lead into a 5-2 win with the tying run at the plate.

In tonight’s 5-1 Giants triumph over the Met, Doval didn’t made his appearance until well into the top of the ninth .It was Tyler Rogers, who had pitched the eighth last night, who let the Mets narrow a 5-0 deficit to four runs with runners on the corners and only one down.

It was, unlike last night, a save situation for San Francisco’s closer. It took him all of five pitches to fan Joey Windel and get Omar Narváez to bounce out to Chapman, That earned Doval his third safe of the young season

Luis Severino, who started for the Mets, brought a 2-1, 2.14 record with him, which was a considerable improvement over his 4-8, 6.65 with the Yankees the previous year Indeed, the injury plagued Severino was at the tail end of a solid career with the Bronx Bombers, for whom he had been a two time all-star and compiled a record of 54-37, 3.79 over eight seasons.

This evening, he was in top form until the Giants got to him in the fifth inning. He ended up throwing six frames of five hit ball, allowing three runs, all earned, and striking out five. He didn’t issue any walks, and 91 pitches, 65 for strikes. He was the losing pitcher, and now has a record of 2-2, 2.67.

The Giants went with Logan Webb, their interim ace until Blake Snell finds his groove. He went into the game at 2-1, 2.93, and with this win went home at 3-1, 2.33. In his eight full innings of work, Webb shut New York out on six hits and a walk. He struck out four, and threw 106 pitches, 75 for strikes,

When Michael Conforto lofted a TexasLeague single to left to lead off the bottom of the fifth, he became San Francisco’s first base runner. Three Mets already had reached base safely, all on hits, but none had scored, partly because of some dazzling defense especialloy by Conforto and Thairo Estrada.

Matt Chapman, whose work at third would have stood out if it had hadn’t been eclipsed by Conforto and Estrada’s brilliance, shot a single to left that moved Conforto up to second.

After Patrick Bailey flew out to left, Estrada poked a single to left that scored Conforto and sent Chapman to third, allowing Etrada to advance to second on the throw. Mike Yastrzemski brought both of them home with his single to center, and just like that, San Francisco was up, 3-0.

Estrada continued to torment the visitors when he led off the home seventh with a triple off Drew Smith, who had come in to relieve Severino. He scored when Yaz, following him in the batting order, singled to right.

Two outs and a wild pitch later, LaMonte Wade, Jr. smacked a scorcher that bounced off Lindor’s glove at short and into left center field for an RBI double, giving the hosts a 5-0 lead. Jake Diekman replaced Smith and set the Giants down in order.

The score remained unchanged until the dramatic top of the ninth, when Tyler Rogers and Doval squelched New York’s efforts at a comeback.

Before the game, the Giants added right handed pitcher Mitch White to their roster. They had bought his contract from the Blue Jays n Saturday. To make room for him, Landen Roupe was optioned the AAA Sacramento River Cats/

The Giants will for a sweep of the series tomorrow, Wednesday afternoon, sending Blake Snell (0-3, 11.57) against the bay area favorite Sean Manaea, now 1-1, 4.12 for New York.

Giants score twice in 2nd and 3rd innings get 5-2 win over Mets

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San Francisco Giants hitter Nick Amhed hits a two run single in front of New York Mets catcher Omar Narvaez in the bottom of the second inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Mon Apr 22, 2024 (AP News photo)

Monday, April 22, 2024

New York (12-9). 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1x 2 4 0

San Francisco (11-13) 0 2 2 0 01 0 0 x 5. 8. 1

Time: 2:25

Attendance: 24,138

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–Tonight’s Giant 5-2 win over the visiting New York Mets was a contest between two teams struggling to re-establish their fairly recent dominance. The Amazin’s went 101-62 as recently as 2022, one year after the orange and black stunned the baseball world with a 107-55 mark.

Neither team has come close to reaching those marks since then. This year’s Mets, shorn of highly paid starters Max Scherzer, sent to Texas last year in a trading deadline deal, and Justin Verlander, dealt to Houston, also at the 2023 deadline, have improved on the dismal 75-87 dismal mark they posted when last year’s tumult and shouting had died down .

It was the first of a three game series between the Metropolitans and the Giants , whose fall from grace since ’22 is painfully well known to the readers of these dispatches. You might call it a Cain and Abel series between the two successors to the New York Giants. Ken Rosenthal has written an interesting column in today’s Athletic, in which he discusses both squads’ chances of being contenders this year.

The team from Queens sent the well travelled left handed veteran José Quitana to the mound. He brought with him a respectable 1-1, 3.05 mark for the year and a five pitch arsenal consisting of, in descending order of deployment, a sinker, four seam fastball, curve, change up, and slurve.

Opposing New York’s 35 year old southpaw was 26 year old right hander Keaton Winn, who was impressive in his hard luck loss to the Padres on April 6 and got the win in his next, and most recent start, on April 17 going six frames and yielding only four hits and a walk, for one run, earned, on a home run, against the Marlins in Miami. He throws, again in descending order of frequency, a split finger fastball, a four seamer, and a slider.

The Giants took an early lead in the bottom of the second. Jorge Soler led off with an infield single to the left side. An out later, Michael Conforto singled to left, moving Soler up to second. Thairo Estrada drew a walk to load the bases.

Tom Murphy took a called third striking,, drawing a chorus of boos. Nick Ahmed followed up with a long fly to left that the scoreboard announced as a double, but third base umpire Roberto Ortiz declared a loud strike. So Ahmed sent a hard shot that just got past Francisco Lindor and into center field for a two run single.

The home team doubled its lead in the next frame on a leadoff walk to Wilmer Flores followed by a single that Jung Hoo Lee lifted into right. After Soler went down swinging, Matt Chapman hit a two bagger that fell close to the left field corner to make the score 4-0, San Francisco.

Pete Alonso put the Mets on the board with a 382 foot blast into the left field bleachers to lead off the top of the fourth. It was his seventh dinger and 12th RBI of ’24 and came on an 0-1 split finger fastball,

Another lead off home run, Conforto’s splash hit on the first pitch of the home sixth, got that run back and sent Quinntana to the showers. It was the Giants’ left fielder’s fifth round tripper and 16th RBI of the year and came off a curve. San Francisco now led, 5-1.

Replaced by Jorge López, Quintana had lasted 5+ innings and allowed five runs, all earned, on seven hits and three walks, striking out four, and throwing 91 pitches, 53 for strikes. His ERA rose to 4.21,and he was charged with the loss, dropping his balance sheet to 1-2.

Winn didn’t last much longer. He issued a base on balls to Starling Marte to open the visit0rs’ seventh. Marte swiped second, which proved to be unnecessary because Winn walked Lindor on four pitches. That’s when Ryan Walker came to his rescue, replacing the SF starter after he’d worked 6+ innings and yielded four hits, including Marte’s homer, which accounted for the only run he allowed, The walk to Lindor was the only free pass he issued, Winn’s pitch count was 87, 60 of which were in the strike column. His record now stands at 2-3, 3.54.

Tyler, the submarining right handed Rogers relieved Walker and set the Mets down in order

Sean Reid-Foley took over mound duties for New York after the seventh inning stretch and held the Giants scoreless for an episode before giving way to southpaw Josh Walker, who turned in a 1,2,3 bottom of the eighth.

Camilo Doval was entrusted with the job of securing the win, his fourth save opportunity of the season. He had to face the top of the Mets’ batting order to do it. He reached a full count on Brandon Nimmo before walking him.

Marte broke his bat on a ground out to second that advanced Nimmo into scoring position. Lindor hit a bouncer that Doval fielded and then threw poorly to first for an error that put runners on the corners with Alonso at the plate.

Dovall then unleashed a wild pitch that let Nimmo cross the plate with the run that made it a 5-2 game. Alonso then grounded out, Chapman to Flores as Lindor moved on to third.. Doval walked on Brett Baty, and that made DJ Stewart, the Mets’. next batter, the potential tying run, Doval got him on a ground ball to second to get the ugly save and preserve the gratifying win.

The battle between the New York Giants’ two successors will continue Tuesday, at 6:45. The probable starters will be Luis Severino (2-1, 2.14) for the Mets and Logan Webb (2-1, 1.93). It promises to be a pitchers’ duel, so be prepared for a slug fest.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: O’s and Rays headed for post season; ex-Phils manager Manuel improving after stroke; plus more news

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Philadelphia Phillies hitting coach Charlie Manuel looks on prior to the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Aug. 14, 2019, in Philadelphia. The Phillies announced Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, that former manager Manuel has suffered a stroke. Manuel was undergoing a medical procedure in Florida when he was afflicted, the team revealed. Sun, Sep 17, 2023 doctors said 12 hours after the procedure Manuel was showing signs of improvement (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The Baltimore Orioles and the Tampa Bay Rays both teams who have great seasons clinched for the AL playoffs after the Texas Rangers lost to the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday.

#2 Good news after the scary experience that ex-Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel 78, had a stroke while going through a medical procedure in Florida. Doctors were able to remove a blood clot from the 79 year old manager Sunday and reported that Manuel has shown improvement. While Manuel was manager for the Phillies he won five NL East titles between 2007-2011. Manuel was fired by the Phillies in 2013 after a 53-67 start of that season.

#3 Cuban born designated hitter and outfielder Jorge Soler of the Miami Marlins hit a home run upon his return from the 10 day IL. Soler had been placed in the IL due to a right oblique strain. Soler said he was feeling discomfort taking swings on Sep 5th but feels alright now going 2-3 with a home run on Sunday.

#4 Pitcher Corey Kluber will not pitch again for the rest of the season for the Boston Red Sox due to right shoulder inflammation. Kluber announced that he has ended his minor league rehab assignment and will not make his third rehab assignment at Triple A Worcester last Saturday. Kluber is a two time Cy Young Award winner.

#5 The New York Mets threw a huge bash for Bartolo Colin at Citi Park in Queens on Sunday. The Mets celebrated Colin’s home run he hit on May 7, 2006. It was Colin’s first home run off the San Diego Padres James Shields and Colin became the oldest player at age 42 years and 349 days to hit a home run. Colin pitched in the big leagues for 21 years. Colin also was a former pitcher for the Oakland A’s and made a big splash with fans and teammates during that time as well.

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

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