Tag: Oakland A’s

A’s Irvin can’t fool Astro hitting in 9-1 offensive barrage

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Hit high the Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez says “good bye baseball” with a three run fourth inning home run against the Oakland A’s at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat Apr 3, 2021 (AP News photo)

Houston. 9. 13. 1

Oakland. 1. 3. 0

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–The A’s came into this afternoon’s game still looking for their first win of the season. Slow starts are nothing new for this team; in eight of the last ten seasons, they have been 1-2 after three games. They tried today to join that not particularly prestigious club. (Spoiler alert: they didn’t) in a 9-1 shellacking to the Houston Astros on Saturday.

Last night’s contest threatened to become a prelude to disaster when Ramón Laureano had to leave the game after injuring his hand. It turned out to be merely a contusion, and the A’s centerfielder is listed as day to day.

Cole Irvin, Oakland’s starting pitcher, is a 27 year old lefty with a lifetime won-loss record of 2-2 and an equally unimpressive ERA of 6.75 for the Philadelphia Phillies, but his numbers for the A’s this spring were impressive: 1-1, ERA 1.00 over five games, three of which he started. He gave up ten hits in eighteen innings, surrendered only one home run, and struck out 18 opponents against three walks.

Irvin’s counterpart on the mound was the veteran right hander Lance McCullers, Jr. He brought with him a career record of 32-25, 3.70 against all comers and 5-2, 4.04 against the A’s. For 2020, those figures were 3-3, 3.93 and 5-2, 4.04, respectively.

It didn’t take long for Houston to get to Irvin. A hit batter, Michael Brantley, with one out, followed by Aledmys Díaz’s double off the left center field wall, and an RBI base knock by Kyle Tucker, and Oakland was trailing by a tally with runners at the corners. But Carlos Correa hit into an around the horn double play, and, just like that, Irvin had limited the damage.

McCullers got himsef in trouble in the bottom of the first and then, with a little help frome home plate umpire Dan Bellino, also escaped with minimal damage. Lead off walks to Mark Canha and Matt Olson, followed by a Matt Chapman strike out on a pair of wicked cutters after the count had reached 1-1, and Mitch Moreland´s RBI single to center evened the score with two on and none out. But Chad Pinder went down swinging, and Stephen Piscotty was called out on a 3-2 knuckle curve that seemed too many, including. me, to have missed the plate.

The Astros took the lead back in the second when Jose Altluve’s bases loaded two out single to left brought home Yordán Alvarez, who had opened the frame with a single to center. But, in spite of a walk to Yuri Gurriel and singles by Myles Straw and Altuve, Irvin wriggled out of the jam, striking out Martín Maldonado and Chas McCormiock, pinch hitting for Brantley, who left the game due to right wrist discomfort.

Irvin held the Astros in check until the fifth. He hit McCormick with a pitch and surrendered a single when Díaz´s line drive just barely eluded Chapman’s glove and landed in left for a single. Irvin got the left handed Tucker to pop out to short. This brought Correa to the plate, the righty-lefty match up, calling for a right handed hurler to face Houston’s shortstop.

Bob Melvin brouht in Lou Trevino to relieve his young starter. The tactic worked; Correa struck out. But last year’s rule change meant that Trevino had to pitch to the left handed hitting Alvarez, who blasted the second pitch he saw over the center field fence, just to the right of the 388 foot sign.

This gave Houston a 5-1 lead and Irvin a line of 4-1/3 innings pitched, 7 hits, one walk and 4 runs , all earned allowed, two strike outs. His pitch count was 82, with 55 strikes. Trevino retired all seven of the other batters he faced before being lifted for Burch Smith who took over mound duties to start the eighth.

Ryne Stanek replaced Lance McCullers to open the Oakland sixth. He left with a line of five innings pitched, one run, earned, two hits, and three walks charged to him. He struck out seven. 54 of his 95 pitches counted as strikes

Enoli Paredes, in turn, relieved McCullers at the start of the home eighth. getting Aramis García out on a grounder back to the mound. Then, hope rose eternal, and Oakland loaded the bases on a single Olson, sandwiched between walks to Canha and Chapman. But Brooks Raley came to Houston´s rescue and struck out Jed Lowrie, pinch hitting for Moreland, swinging. Hope rose again when Chad Pinder clouted one out to deep right center, only to die on the warning track in the glove of Myles Straw.

Reymin Guduan couldn´t hold the Astros within what they had, just a few minutes earlier, seemed like striking distance. Maldonado opened the visitors´ninth with a single to right. Altuve walked. McCormick doubled, sending Maldonado home and Altuve to third. He scored and McCormick replaced him on third when Díaz singled to left. McCormick then scored on a wild pitch to Tucker, while Díaz moved up to second. Another wild pitch sent Díaz to third. Correa broke the monotony with a single to center. He went to second on yet another wild pitch. Finally, Guduan got out of the inning by retiring Alvarez and Gurriel.

The As went down 1,2,3 in their half of the ninth.

McCullers got the win; Raley, the save. The loss went to Irvin.

Oh, well, tomorrow is another day, and Sean Manaea will try to save one game of the series before the Dodgers come to town on Monday. José Urquidy will try to extend Houston’s winning streak to four. Game time is 1:07 at the Oakland Coliseum.

A’s Luzardo coughs up 2 homers and 5 earned runs in 9-5 loss to Astros

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Houston Astros baserunner Jose Altuve (27) reaches down to touch home plate behind Oakland A’s catcher Aramis Garcia (37) on a Michael Brantley double in the top of the fourth inning (AP News photo)

Houston. 9. 14. 0

Oakland. 5. 8. 1

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–Ever since they traded Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson to Washington for Blake Treinen, Sheldon Neuse and Jesús Luzardo July of 2017, the A’s have had high expectations for the Peruvian born, Venezuelan and state-side educated left hander Luzardo.

While he hasn’t yet fulfilled the team’s hopes, it hasn’t been for lack of talent or motivation but because of nagging problems with the shoulder of his pitching arm. Indeed, he underwent Tommy John surgery at 18, while still in high school. That was in 2016. He began last season in the bullpen and ended up starting in game 3 of the division series. In between he threw his first 100 pitch game. His record for the season was 3-2, 4.12.

Today, he left the game trailing 5-2 after five innings, in which he sent 92 balls to the plate, 56 of which were strikes. All five runs were earned, and Luzardo gave up eight hits, two of which were round trippers. He walked one and struck out eight Astros. Burch Smith relieved him to open the sixth. The A’s ended up losing their second straight game to the Astros 9-5 at the Oakland Coliseum.

Luzardo’s opposite number for the visitors was their promising right hander, Cristián Javier, who had finished third in last year´s rookie of the year balloting.

Houston drew first blood in the third, capitalizing on José Altuve’s short stature and the long ball prowess of Michael Brantey and Alex Bregman. The Astros’ second sacker opened the frame by taking a four pitch walk. Brantley followed with a double off the right-center field wall.

He looked out at second, and the A’s shortstop Elvis Andrus thought he was. Second base umpire Sean Barber did not. Alex Bregman then blasted a three and two 96 mph four seam fast ball over both the glove of a leaping Mark Canha and the left field wall, Luzardo settled down to retire the next three batters in order.

But the Astros added a couple of runs to their 3-0 lead in the very next inning. Yuli Gurriel led off with a homer to left. Two outs later, Altuve beat out a grounder to Chapman. He scored on Brantley’s resounding double to center.

Oakland finally got on the board in their half of the fourth. Canha led off with a single to third and scored on Laureano’s powerful triple. Olson was hit by a pitch, and, after Chapman fanned, Laureano came home on Mitch Moreland’s sacrifice fly to medium right field.

You can chalk that run up to Laureano’speed. After Lowrie lined a single to center, Astro manager Dusty Baker decided that Javier had pitched enough for the day and replaced him on the mound with Bryan Abreu, who closed out the inning by getting Andrus to hit into a force out at second.

Houston’s young starter left with no decision, having yielded two runs, both earned, on three hits over three and two-thirds innings. He gave up three hits and got four strike outs while hitting one batter. 46 of his 73 offerings were strikes.

With Smith on the mound for Oakland in the top of the seventh, Houston managed to tack on another to their lead when Altuve walked and advanced to third on single by Bregman. The speedy Altuve then managed to score on Kyle Tucker’s sacrifice pop up to Andrus in shallow right field.

The Athletics came roaring back in the bottom half of that inning, Chad Pinder, pinch hitting for Ka’ai Tom with Jed Lowrie, who had walked, on first, blasted a Brooks Raley 90 mph cut fast ball into the left center field seats to cut the Astros’ advantage to 6-4. They narrowed their deficit to a single tally on Olson’s two base hit, a productive ground out to second by Chapman, and a pinch hit ground out to short by a pinch hitting Stephen Piscotty off of Blake Taylor.

The deficit increased, however, in the Astros’ ninth. Jake Diekman made an inauspcious season debut by giving up a single to right by the pesky Altuve, who stopped at third on Brantley’s subsequent double to right. Diekman then loaded the bases with an intentional pass to Bregman.

Left handed hitter Kyle Tucker, with the shift on and the infield drawn in, slapped a hard bounder to Andrus, playing to the right of second base. The ball bounced off the shortstop’s glove and into center field for a two run single and an 8-4 Houston lead.

Althogh Diekman struck out the next two batters, the wheels continued to fall off Oakland’s wagon, JB Windelkin walked Gurriel, moving Bregman and Tucker up a base each. Myles Straw hit what looked like an inning ending grounder to Olson. But the Gold Glove winning first baseman bobbled the ball, and Straw beat his throw to Windelken at first. That was the final score, Houston winning 9-5.

Ryan Pressly closed out the game for the ‘stros with a scoreless ninth. Abreu got the win for his two and a third innings of one hit ball.

The A’s used five pitchers, Luzardo, Smith, Romo, Diekman, and Wendelken, in a losing cause.

The teams will go at it again tomorrow at 1:07. Lance McCullers, Jr. will take the mound for Houston. Col Irvin will make his debut for Oakland.

The A’s are now two games down with, let us hope, 160 to go.

Astros late run rallies spoil A’s opener 8-1 at the Coliseum

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Houston Astros runner Jose Altuve (27) slides in safely at home behind Oakland A’s catcher Sean Murphy (12) at the Oakland Coliseum Thu Apr 1, 2021 (AP News photo)

Houston. 8. 9. 2

Oakland. 1. 6. o

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–Tonight’s opening game of the 2021 season offered several subtle contrasts.. The A’s started Chris Bassitt, 32 years old and at the peak of his career. Last year’s severely shortened season was the first he had spent from start to finish on a major league roster.

In his first four big league seasons, he went 4-14, 3.86. In 2019-20, however, he went a combined 15-7, 3.35, Last year those figures were 5-2, 2.29 , and he was, arguably, Oakland’s most reliable pitcher. He features, in declining order, a sinker, cutter, four seam fastball, change-up, curve, and slider. He looked sharp during this year’s spring training.

His thirty-seven year old opponent, Zack Greinke last faced the A’s in the Coliseum on September 8, 2020 , in the first of two seven inning games of a double header. The 18 year veteran pitched respectably but not particularly well. He gave up seven hits and four earned runs in six innings and was saddled with the 4-2 loss.

His 3-3, 4.03 record that year may have been a fluke, or it may be a sign that Houston’s formidable righty has started on the downward slide of his career. He throws fastballs, change-ups, sliders , change-up, and curves. He has been known to lob an occasional eephus pitch. Maybe he should have a chat with Jesús Luzardo. They could share a turkey sub.

This was the first game played in the Coliseum before a paying crowd since the A’s wild card play-in loss to Tampa Bay on October 2, 2019 before 54,005 fans. The limit for tonight’s attendance had been announced as 20% of capacity, but that was raised to 26% yesterday. The final gate tally for tonight was 10,436.

The face of the A’s had changed during the fans’ enforced absence from the Nimitz Palace. Gone, among others, are Khris Davis and Marcus Semien. The now-you-see-him, now-you-don’t Jed Lowie is back, and Elvis Andrus patrols the left side of the infield between him and Matt Chapman when they’re not in a shift.

Chapman and his fellow Gold Glover, Matt Olson, have played well this spring, and hopes are high that their 2020 fall-offs are a thing of the past. Another familiar face sporting the home whites was ex-Giant reliever Sergio Romo. The Athletics announced this morning that it had two promising pitchers, A.J. Puk and Daulton Jefferies, to the alternate site in Stockton and had placed to more pitchers, Mike Fiers and Trevor Rosenthal, who was expected to be the new closer, on the ten-day injured list, Fiers retroactively to March 29. Lefty hurler and one time Astro Reymin Guduan was promoted from Las Vegas to take up the slack. And, finally, the marvelously monikered Skye Bolt was DFA’d.

The closest thing to a threat that either team could muster in the first three innings came with two down in the home third when Andrus, batting ninth, lashed a rule book double over the low fence in left center field for Oakland’s first hit of the game and his first as an Athletic. He advanced to third on a wild pitch to Mark Canha and was standed when the A’s lead-off batter wiffed on a 73 mph curve ball.

The Astros immediately made Oakland regret its failure to seize the opporitunity. José Altuve opened the top of the fourth with a walk and advanced to third on Michael Brantley’s line drive double to right. Alex Bregman’s ground out to Chapman brought Altuve home with the game’s first tally.

A dramatic leaping catch of Kyle Tucker’s fly to right center by Chad Pinder saved a run and maybe more but didn’t prevent Altuve from moving over to third. The crowd cheered when Bassett plunked Carlos Correa with a 94 mph four seamer.

It cheered almost as much when Jordán Alvarez flew out to left to end the innning. One inning later, Pinder made another spectacular grab, robbing Altuve of an opposite field extra base hit with a horizontal flying catch of a a liner heading for the right field foul line.

With one out in the top of the sixth, Bregman hit a liner between Canha in left and Laureano in center, The speedy Laureano got to the ball, but it bounced off the heel of his glove for a double. After yielding a walk to Tucker, the A´s starter yielded the mound to Yusmeiro Petit, who got Correa out on a pop foul to catcher Sean Murphy but allowed both inherited runs to score on DH Jordán Alvarez´s two bagger to left.

Bassett left the game after throwing 68 pitches, 46 of them strikes, over 5-1/3 innings. He gave up four hits and was charged with all three Houston runs, and all of them were earned. He walked two, struck out three, and hit one batter. Petit threw 11 pitches, with five strikes. Lou Trevino replaced him after his two thirds of an inning stint.

Dusty Baker removed Greinke after six innings of work. His line was impressive, three hits, four strike outs, and a wild pitch. The rest, zeroes.

His replacement, Eoli Paredes, didn’t fare as well. Laureano led off the home seventh with a foul behind first base that Yuli Gourriel let drop for an at bat extending error. The A’s centerfielder took advantage of the miscue to blast a double to left, steal third, and score on Chapman’s sac fly to left. It took him 32 pitches to get out of the frame with only one, unearned, run charged to him.

Adam Kolarek was an off-season acquisition from the Dodgers. He took over for Trevino to start the eighth and promptly surrendered a home run to Brantley and then another to Bregman. A ground out, a walk, and a hit batter later, Kolarek was gone, giving way to J.B. Wendelkin, who stauched the flow.

The newly promoted Reymin Gudjuan suffered the indignity of pitching to Houston in its last half inning at the plate. Two of the three outs he achieved were sacrifice flies, which tells you something about his effectiveness. He gave up singles to Altuve and Correa, walks to Brantley and Bregman, and threw a wild pitch to Alvarez before he hit one of the sac flies. The win went to Greinke; the loss, to Bassett.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: You gotta feel bad for US soccer goalie; Curry back in Warriors line up, plus more

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

In a classy move Team Honduras player Luis Palma consoles Team USA goalie David Ochoa after scoring the winning goal for the win on Sun Mar 28, 2021 at the Olympic soccer semi finals (USA Today still shot photo)

#1 The US men’s soccer team failed to qualify on Sunday in the 2021 Olympic semifinals against Honduras. All players on both teams were under 23 to qualify. The US goalkeeper David Ochoa stopped a shot that ricocheted back to Honduras shooter Luis Palma that he booted for the winning goal to eliminate Team USA 2-1.

#2 The Golden State Warriors whose struggles mainly started when they lost star player Stephen Curry to a tailbone injury against the Houston Rockets. The Warriors have now lost four straight. Curry was back in the line up Monday night giving the Warriors some hope.

#3 The Oakland A’s open their regular season Thu Apr 1st against the Houston Astros at the Oakland Coliseum. The A’s will start Chris Bassitt who was 2-0 in spring training 1.74 he started in three games for the A’s in the Cactus League.

#4 San Francisco Giant pitcher Kevin Gausman gets the call to start against the Seattle Mariners on opening day this Thursday. Gausman 0-1 with an ERA 5.63 is expected to do some big things for the Giants as one of their top starters.

#5 Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto gets the call to start the home opener on Fri Apr 9th at Oracle Park against the Colorado Rockies. Cueto was 0-0 with a 9.82 ERA in spring training can Johnny Baseball return to his old form the days when he starred with the Kansas City Royals.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast Mon Mar 29, 2021 by Sports Radio Service | Free Listening on SoundCloud

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: 2021 Opening Day Hangover from Covid

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The Oakland A’s Matt Chapman running the bases in this spring training photo on Feb 22, 2021. Played only 37 out of 60 regular season games last year. Is looking to play the full season this year. (AP News photo)

2021 Opening Day: Hangover from Covid

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The hangover from covid could be coming to an end this next Thursday on April 1. Opening Day. Hangovers typically go away within 24 hours, but 24 hours can feel like an eternity. The last 12 plus months have been an eternity in our lives, but baseball is coming to the rescue, and this hangover is just about done. Baseball is like the proverbial bowl of Menudo, that many believe is the best “cure” for a hangover.

April 1, 2021, will mark the first time since 1968 that all major league teams open their season (all 30) on the same day. Last year was a 60-game sprint this year should be the regular 162-game marathon, one thing that makes baseball unique among all major sports.

This is how I see the American League West this year (how they will finish):

1- Oakland Athletics: Although they lost some key pieces this off-season like Marcus Semien (Jays) Liam Hendricks (White Sox) Tommy LaStella (Giants) Robbie Grossman (Tigers) Joaquim Soria (Arizona) Khris Davis (Texas) and pitcher Mike Minor to Kansas City, they still hungry after elimination by the Houston Astros in the AL Division Series.

The A’s on their division without their star third-baseman Matt Chapman who played part time in 37 of the 60 game-season. Their pitching rotation still young, specially their starters, with real breakout potential, Jesús Luzardo, Chris Bassitt, Sean Manaea and Frankie Montás, and A.J Puk, Puk’s gone through Tommy John and shoulder surgeries in the last four years, but had a terrific Spring Training.

Mike Fiers could give them more experience on the mound, but he will begin season on the Injured List with left hip inflammation. Towards the end of the off season they did picked-up veteran shortstop Elvis Andrus from Texas, together with catcher Aramis García (who played for the Giants in 2020) he is the #2 catcher behind regular Sean Murphy.

Revamped their bullpen early in the post season with left handed pitcher Nik Turley from the Pirates, veteran reliever Sergio Romo (Twins) and closer Trevor Rosenthal who pitched for the Padres last season, to a one year deal for $11 million, plus lefty Adam Kolarek from the Dodgers, while retaining Jake Diekman, Yusmeiro Petit and Lou Trivino.

To replace the vacant DH position for Khris Davis, the A’s acquired veteran first-baseman and DH Mitch Moreland. Jed Lowrie is back and he could be alternating at second base with Tony Kemp or ‘all around’ utility extraordinaire Chad Pinder. Ramón Laureano, Elvis Andrus, Matt Chapman, Matt Olson, Jed Lowrie, Stephen Piscotty, Mark Canha, young-talented catcher Sean Murphy, they should have enough offense.

A new name in town, will be 26 year-old outfielder Ka’ai Tom, born in Honolulu, Hawaii, who made the team during last week of Spring Training. Why the A’s did not keep their home-born favorite player Marcus Semien, who signed for 1-year in Toronto for $18 million, I still do not understand. Bob Melvin is one of the best managers in the game and in my opinion very underrated.

2- Los Angeles Angels: Finished ten games behind the Athletics and in fourth place. They have one of the best one-two punches of any line-up in baseball with Mike Trout (the best player in baseball) and Anthony Rendón. And a supporting cast of future Hall of Famers: Albert Pujols (his last year of his 10-year contract) Justin Upton, David Fletcher, plus two veterans acquired this winter slick-fielding shortstop José Iglesias and outfielder Dexter Fowler, who is an insurance policy for the club, while young Jo Adell will begin the season in their minor leagues.

After a breakout rookie year, young Jared Walsh is expected to be their first baseman, most of the time over veteran Albert Pujols. The pitching still a big question mark . They were mentioned as the favorite destination for right-hander Trevor Bauer, the NL Cy Young Award winner last season, but he decided to go a few miles up north on Hwy 5 and signed with the LA Dodgers.

The Angels rotation with Shohei Ohtani (who will also be a DH) Andrew Heaney, Dylan Bundy, Griffin Canning, Alex Cobb and new acquisition José Quintana. Any combination of those six should be their starting rotation. José Quintana was an interesting acquisition, he was starting pitcher for the Cubs but suffered a thumb injury on his left hand while washing dishes at his Miami home and only pitched in five games for the Cubs, starting only one game, he has good stuff and could be a key factor for the Halos.

Weakness is depth of starting pitching. Their offense should be formidable, led by Mike Trout. If anybody could surprise here and challenge the A’s, is this team, with their great manager Joe Maddon. They finished in fourth place a third place finish is a conservative pick.

However, if their pitching performs well, they could rival the Athletics for the division title. I think the Angels are the most interesting team in this division. Mike Trout has only made it to one playoff since 2014. For a while I pondered about where they will end the season. Pick’ em for second place.

3- Houston Astros: The Astros would had continued to be the Athletics biggest foe, until they lost Frember Valdéz to a Spring Training injury and subsequent surgery, he will miss most of this season. Pitching star and Número Uno starter Justin Verlander underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery on Sept. 30, 2020, and he is doubtful to pitch during the 2021 season.

Verlander is a two-time Cy Young winner and future member of the Hall of Fame. Everyday he is not pitching, it would represent a big advantage to the Athletics, not to mention the other teams in the West. The starting rotation; Zack Greinke (who was their best pitcher last season) and will open the season for the club, Lance McCullers Jr, José Urquidy, Cristian Javier, who finished third in the running for Rookie of the Year in 2020.

Their bullpen is not their best department, although they picked up veteran reliever Pedro Báez who was with the Dodgers since 2014. Their offense still excellent. Even without George Springer, who signed a 6 year $150 million contract with Toronto, the Astros still have one of the best lineups, with José Altuve, Alex Bregman, Carlos Correa, Michael Brantley, Yuli Guriel, Josh Reddick, Kyle Tucker and the return of their young slugger and Designated Hitter Jordan Alvarez (23) whose knee is healthy, he is the key in this powerful lineup, if he stays healthy, watch out.

The Astros escaped the wrath of the fans in 2020, with no fans allowed, after their sign-stealing scandal the previous season. Ironically, the covid pandemic helped the Astros in that regard. But, it is not like this happened 20 years ago, so it would be interesting to see the fans reaction during this season.

They are still a very good team, now with 38-year old Opening Night starter Zack Greinke, but the Astros will begin the season with a wounded rotation. Dusty Baker back at the helm trying to go deeper in the post season, as they were eliminated after they took the Atléticos in the Divisional Series.

Dusty with 1,892 wins is #15 in the old-time manager’s winning list and second among active managers to Tony LaRussa, back with the White Sox as manager, Tony is #3 all time manager with 2,728 wins.

The last team the A’s played last season, Houston, will be the first they play this year. Third place is the place for the kids from the “Space Center”. But do not bet on it.

4-Seattle Mariners: Center fielder Kyle Lewis won the AL Rookie of the Year getting all 30 votes. The Mariners could use a few more like Lewis in their lineup. Their veteran third baseman Kyle Seager led the club with 40 RBIs. Their No.5 prospect Taylor Trammell could open the season as their rookie left-fielder.

Just days before Spring Training veteran lefty James Paxton came back after pitching for the Yankees last year to join the team he had played who drafted him in 2010 and played for since 2013. Paxton is now part of their pitching rotation headed last season by lefty veteran Marco González with a 7-2 and 3.10 ERA in 11 games started, Yusei Jikuchi, Justus Sheffield, Justin Dunn.

There is no Mariano Rivera in the Seattle bullpen, but there is nobody remotely close to a Mariano Rivera anyway. They are not better than the A’s, Astros or Angels, so they should probably dock their ship in fourth place. Any finish above sea level for these Mariners should be a big improvement.

Last year they finished in third place with 27-33, actually not that bad. Seattle is a great city, with great regional fans, they come from hundreds of miles north, south, east and west, even from another country, Canada, to one of the best baseball facilities in MLB, Safeco Field. They remain the only team in this division never to have made it to a World Series, since their first season in 1977. They are definitely not going to a World Series this year.

5-Texas Rangers: They built a new park last season, Globe Life Field, a $1.1 billion retractable Texas palace (that is the value of the Oakland A’s franchise today) The Rangers still have not played a regular season game at their new digs.

The 2020 World Series was played there last year, and their first home game is scheduled for April 5, against the Toronto Blue Jays. That will be the first time they will play at their palatial new ballpark. Nobody would envy the job of manager Chris Woodward with these Texas Rangers.

They lost two of their star regular players in Elvis Andrus (A’s) and Nomar Mazara (Tigers). Rougned Odor had a tough season, hit .167 in 38 games, still hit ten home runs and drove-in 28 runs. They still have Joey Gallo (who every year is mentioned as possible bait for a big trade) Still have Isah Kiner-Falefa, and newcomers, Khris Davis, Nate Lowe and David Dahl.

Starters in their rotation; Kyle Gibson, Mike Foltynewicz, Dane Dunning, and Kohei Arihara. Best they can hope is a fourth place finish same as last season when they ended with 22-38, 14 games behind the division champion Athletics. I think the Mariners will push for the cellar.

One of my old friends favorite saying was “the more things change, the more they stay the same”, they finished last in 2020 and should do same this year. Biggest positive for their fans in 2021, their new ballpark was to be inaugurated in 2020, but covid-19 derailed that possibility, but not this year.

Texas was first State in the country lo lift their lock-down restrictions and this team was first in MLB to announce they will sell all 40,000 seat plus for their first game of the season at home. Good Luck to the Rangers, they are going to need it.

Notes: The Oakland Athletics will open their 53rd season at Oakland this Thursday during a 7-game home stand, when they host the Houston Astros in the first of four games to be followed with three games against the World Champions Los Angeles Dodgers.

Opening Night: Bob Melvin will send Chris Bassitt to the mound, while Dusty Baker inked his veteran Zack Greinke to open the season. In case you are counting. It has been 32 years since the last time the Athletics won a World Series, when they swept the San Francisco Giants in the famous “Earthquake World Series” in 1989.

First pitch 7:07 960AM-A’s Cast—(Spanish) KIQI 1010/KATD 990AM Bay Area and Sacramento/Stockton — TV- NBCSCA

Did You Know? Charlie O Finley owner of the Oakland Athletics said he chose ‘green and gold’ for the uniforms in honor of his favorite college football team Notre Dame.

Stay well and stay tuned.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: The Matts and their bats; Olson and Chapman ready for season

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Matt Chapman (26) and Matt Olson (right) forearm bash in this Mar 5, 2021 photo as the two are expected to be big boppers for the Oakland A’s this season (AP News photo)

#1 Oakland A’s said that he hopes that since there is good news on the Howard Terminal ball park that there a good chance for long term contracts

#2 For spring Chapman is hitting .161, four runs, five hits, two home runs, and two RBIs and is looking forward to playing some good defense at third for Oakland this spring.

#3 A’s first baseman Matt Olson looks like he’s been hitting everything in sight hitting .342 eight runs, five homers and 14 RBIs you can pretty much look forward to Olson hitting in the clean up spot.

#4 The A’s will allow a minimum amount of 8,000 fans into the ball park per game for 2021with seats spread apart the A’s will be making sure that protocols coming into the park are followed will it be safe for the fans?

#5 The Oakland A’s moved nine players to their minor league camp, RHP Domingo Acevedo, RHP Argenis Angulo, RHP Matt Blackham, RHP Ben Bracewell, C Tyler Soderstrom, 1B Frank Schwindel, SS Nick Allen, OF Buddy Reed. Of who were moved do you see possibly making the opening day roster.

Join Amaury for News and Commentary podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast Wed Mar 24, 2021 by Sports Radio Service | Free Listening on SoundCloud

Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason: Ramos sent to Giants minor league camp; A’s Olson hitting over .400; plus more

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The San Francisco Giants outfielder Heliot Ramos taking his cuts has hit over .390 in spring training has been assigned to minor league camp but not ruled out to make the opening day roster. (mercurynews.com photo)

On Headlines podcast with Barbara:

#1 Barbara, the San Francisco Giants sent one their best hitters outfielder Heliot Ramos in spring to minor league camp the move reportedly doesn’t mean that Ramos will be not make the opening day roster he will remain in camp. Ramos has 11 hits, and three home runs and is hitting .393.

#2 Oakland A’s first baseman Matt Olson is having the spring of his life he’s hitting .406, eight runs, 13 hits, five homers and 14 RBIs there’s not too many pitches getting away from Olson.

#3 The Sacramento Kings have been playing .500 ball of late they have won four of their last eight games but lost their most recent game to the Philadelphia 76ers 129-105. The Kings struggled on defense as the Sixers scored 42 points in the first quarter to the Kings 21 an indicator of what was to come.

#4 The Golden State Warriors have been playing short handed as they lost a tough battle of a game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night 111-103 in Memphis. Jordan Poole led the Warriors in scoring with 26 points and finishing second Andrew Wiggins with 20.

#5 The San Jose Sharks (11-14-4) lost their fourth straight game in San Jose on Saturday night to the St Louis Blues (16-10-5) 5-2. The Blues jumped to a 2-1 lead in the first period and the Sharks tied the game in the second period 2-2 and the Blues put the game away with three goals in the third period for the three goal win.

Join Barbara for Headline Sports each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason Mon Mar 22, 2021 by Sports Radio Service | Free Listening on SoundCloud

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Romo and Bum share a laugh when meeting; Puk starts a good game against KC

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

A’s pitcher AJ Puk goes two innings on against the Kansas City Royals and is expected to be a big part of the A’s starting rotation (Oakland A’s file photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 Oakland A’s releiver Sergio Romo stepped off the pitchers mound on Tuesday afternoon to smile a bit before facing his longtime friend and former teammate the Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Madison Bumgarner. The two played together on the San Francisco Giants and won three World Series titles together.

#2 Bumgarner during the at bat was smiling the who time he was in the batters box facing Romo, It was the first time Romo saw Bumgarner smile on a baseball field in the whole time they played with and against each other.

#3 Bumgarner struck out on a looking fast ball third strike turned and said a word to plate umpire Adrian Johnson before walking back to the dugout. Romo had struckout his old teammate.

#4 Matt Olson seeing the ball well got a home run on Wednesday against the Kansas City Royals pitcher Jake Newberry. After the rake on Jake, Newberry got angry and struck out the next three hitters.

#4 In his start against the Royals A’s pitcher AJ Puk threw for two innings, two hits, two earned runs, one walk and four strike outs.

#5 Jerry everybody has been waiting to see how A’s pitcher Trevor Rosenthal and how he will perform he relieved Puk going one inning, two hits, one earned run, one walk, and one strike out. The A’s are expecting big things from Rosenthal this season.

Join Jerry every Thursday for the Oakland A’s podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Rangers announce capacity for opening day; What are the risks?

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Opening day in Texas as the Texas Rangers line up on the foul lines at Globe Life Field in Arlington TX on July 24, 2020. The Rangers expect a full house for Opening Day Apr 5, 2021 but mask wearing enforced. (AP News file photo)

Texas Rangers Announce Capacity for Opening Day

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The Texas Rangers are the first team to announce that Globe Life Field will be open for the full capacity when they play their first game of the 2021 season at home against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 5.

Although every seat will be available for 40,518 fans, fans will be required to wear masks. Also, they will be required to maintain social distancing while they enter and exit the stadium as well as standing in line at concession stands.

This includes their two final exhibition games as well. For this Opening Day in Texas the team announced that they are going to sell tickets in “pods”.

Therefore, the Texas Rangers are the first professional team to open to a full capacity since the beginning of the Covid-10 pandemic. The front office also announced they are working with Major League Baseball on other protocols regarding player health and their safety.

With populations of approximately 30 million, Texas is the second most populous State in the country behind California.

The Oakland Athletics announce they are planning for a limited capacity at 20 percent to start of their season opener April 1 at the Oakland Coliseum vs. the Houston Astros, while the San Francisco Giants will soon announce their plans for fans allowed. The San Francisco Giants open season on the road and their home opener will take place on April 9 vs. the Colorado Rockies.

Stay well and stay tuned.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez for his weekly podcast of That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Giants Wade and Dubon expected to platoon in center; A’s Reed and Allen got glove

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Batting practice was in full effect at Hohokham Stadium in Mesa AZ as the Oakland A’s tuned up on Mon Mar 1, 2021 (photo from @Athletics)

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary:

#1 Amaury, the San Francisco Giants LeMonte Wade Jr is a player that the Giants  are looking for the Wade to help in centerfield and Wade who hits left would play the outfield corners when a right handed pitcher is going against the Giants and Mauricio Dubon who hits right would then play center.

#2 Giants manager Gabe Kaplin said he likes the way that Wade gets a jump on the ball when playing shortstop and wanted to get a solid back up at the shortstop position backing up starter Brandon Crawford.

#3 In right field Buddy Reed an Oakland A’s prospect fielded a hot shot towards the line that Reed turned and threw to home plate to gun down the Los Angeles Dodgers Matt Beaty and Reed also threw out a runner at third with a throw from right field as well.

#4 A’s manager Bob Melvin is also taking a look at shortstop Nick Allen who made a grab up the middle preventing a base hit and ran towards the foul line for a wind blown pop up that he caught.

#5 Melvin and pitching coach Scott Emerson are looking forward to working with Sean Murphy again who will be returning after having collapsed lung surgery. Murphy was seen playing catch on Saturday. Melvin said they want to go slow on his return and he said he won’t take any hitting preventing any tear in the scar from the surgery.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast Tue Mar 2, 2021 by Sports Radio Service | Free Listening on SoundCloud