Tag: Oakland A’s

Sacramento A’s relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: A’s owner Fisher makes rare public statement regarding move to Vegas and Tropicana implosion

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After standing 67 years (1957) the Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas was imploded on Wed Oct 9, 2024 to make room for the incoming Sacramento A’s for the target dates 2028 or 2029 seasons. (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum:

#1 Daniel, the Tropicana was founded in 1957 and was imploded Wednesday Oct 9th. The Tropicana was one of the longest standing hotel casinos in Las Vegas strip history. The now demolished lot will be designated for a new Las Vegas A’s ball park on nine acres and the rest of the property will used for building hotel towers and casinos.

#2 For preparation of the implosion of the two Tropicana towers that once housed tourists, dignitaries, guests, and those who stayed at the Tropicana just to roll the dice the public was kept away for safety reasons.

#3 The implosion lasted only 22 second and was livestreamed that included 555 drones and a fireworks show. The resort had closed on April 2nd just as the 2024 baseball season and what would be the A’s last and final season in Oakland.

#4 A statement from A’s owner John Fisher: “The demolition of the Tropicana is an important milestone in the process of bringing A’s baseball to the world-renowned Las Vegas Strip and the community of Southern Nevada,” said Fisher in a Baily’s news release right after the implosion. “We hope that, in time, this site will become a place of unforgettable experiences for fans of the game.” Some still doubt that Fisher can get his share of the construction costs and that the A’s will ever move to Las Vegas.

#5 It’s the first time a casino has been imploded since the Riviera was imploded to make room for the construction of the Las Vegas convention center. Only the Sahara remains standing as the last of the hotel and casinos built in the 1950s.

Daniel Dullum does the Sacramento A’s podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O: Universities boycott SJSU’s Volleyball games with transgender on Spartans roster; Cal gets some love on Game Day from ESPN; plus more news

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San Jose State Spartans outside right side hitter Blaire Fleming (3) has been the focus of being a transgender playing on a women’s volleyball team. Three universities have boycotted against playing SJSU and did not disclose the reasons why. (SJSU photo)

On Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O:

#1 San Jose State Spartans volleyball has been in the spotlight over transgender outside right side hitter Blaire Fleming. Three universities have boycotted playing SJSU, Southern Utah, Boise State, Wyoming. The three universities did not disclose a reason for boycotting the games against SJSU. Fleming teammate Brooke Slusser has joined a lawsuit against the NCAA regarding safety issues after finding out that Fleming was transgender. How much of a conundrum is this going to cause the NCAA with teams boycotting and players filing lawsuits.

#2 Charlie, it was a special day for Cal football on Saturday as they hosted the Miami Hurricane. It was the first time in the school’s history that they host ESPN Game Day. The event went down as a big deal as Cal made the national scene. Cal had gone 3-1 previous to their game with Miami and got some love from the World Wide Sports Leader.

#3 Vice President Kamala Harris on her podcast “All is Smoke” expressed sadness about Oakland losing all it’s professional sports teams which included Golden State Warriors, Oakland Raiders and Oakland A’s. Harris was joined by former Warriors Harrison Barnes and Stephen Jackson on the podcast. Harris said “it breaks my heart.” The vice president said she feels sadness each time she passes the Oakland Coliseum when she flies in and out of Oakland Airport.

#4 It was mentioned on a local talk show that it’s 98% certain that the A’s will end up at Sutter Health Field but it’s the uncertain 2% that you have to look out for. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that A’s president David Forst said “I don’t think we have a 100% certainty.” even though renovations have been made in the dugouts the artificial turf has not been installed at all. The players of other teams behind the scenes have told their agents they do not want to play on artificial turf and using a minor league park would not be practical for big league players. According to A’s manager Mark Kotsay, “no decision (to go) from grass to turf has been made.” Charlie you were there on the last game in Oakland I know you said it’s a done deal in Sacramento but there is doubt about Sutter Health and the players really are leaning on finishing up at the Coliseum before moving to Vegas.

#5 The Arizona Cardinals (1-3) kick off against the San Francisco 49ers (2-2) at Levi Stadium. The Cardinals are a struggling bunch they had their heads handed to them by the Washington Commanders last week. Cardinal quarterback Kyler Murray was 16-22 for 142 yards, and one touchdown. The 49ers after losing two straight games defeated the New England Patriots last Sunday 30-13 and ran up the score on the Pats. Will the 49ers make easy work of the Cardinal today?

#6 The Las Vegas Raiders just got by the Cleveland Browns last week 20-16. After holding a 20-10 win the Raiders in the fourth quarter couldn’t get any offense going and the Browns returned a fumble for a touchdown but it wasn’t enough as Las Vegas came away with a four point win at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Join Charlie O for Headline Sports podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Pete Rose podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: He was controversial, banned, all time hits leader, now belongs to the ages at 83

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Pete Rose in memorium 1941-2024 tribute dedication photo courtesy of the Cincinnati Reds

Pete Rose podcast with Jerry Feitelberg:

Former Cincinnati Red Pete Rose a long time player and manager passed away on Monday at age 83. Rose had a fabulous career as a baseball player. Rose broke in in 1963 that’s 61 years ago. He holds the records for most hits ever.

He surpassed Ty Cobb for the most hits. He holds the record for a hitting streak at 44 games. He was know as Charlie Hustle. He’d give you 100%. He’s remembered for his collision with the late Cleveland Indians catcher Ray Fosse during the 1970 All Star Game.

I covered the Oakland A’s for many years and got to see Fosse who was an A’s broadcaster and never asked him about the collision with Rose and when I did get to ask him about it he would just simply say “that’s baseball” and “I was there to block the plate he had every right to crash into me.”

TMZ recently asked when they caught him on the street and asked him who was the best player not in the Hall of Fame right now. Rose said, “Joe Jackson” who was part of nine players who were accused of throwing the 1919 World Series. Although found not guilty of betting on the World Series by a jury MLB Commissioner at the time Kenesaw Mountain Landis banned Jackson and his teammates for life a ban that stands to this day. Rose is banned as well for life.

Jerry Feitelberg does baseball analysis at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: End of an Era-I feel I was Evicted

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Oakland A’s Spanish radio announcers left to right Manolo Hernandez-Douen, Jose Orellana (engineer), and Amaury Pi Gonzalez at the last MLB game ever played at the Oakland Coliseum between the Oakland A’s and Texas Rangers on Thu Sep 26, 2024 (photo furnished by the author Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

End of an Era -I feel I was Evicted

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–It ended on a Sunday afternoon in Seattle, the Oakland A’s run since 1968. The Seattle Mariners beat the Oakland A’s (last time we can say Oakland A’s): Seattle 6, Oakland 4. It has been an emotional hangover for most of us who worked at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

I do feel like I have been “evicted” for no fault of my own, and I know many feel the same way. I have been there from the Charlie O Finley ownership[ days to Joh Fisher’s days}. I met Mr. Finley, but never A’s owner Mr. Fisher.

I started broadcasting Major League Baseball at old Box 19, a broadcast booth at the Oakland Coliseum, in 1978. It has been a long time since then. In 1978, the NY Yankees beat the LA Dodgers in the World Series, and Bucky Dent was the MVP.

The highest-paid player in 1978 was third baseman Mike Schmidt of the Philadelphia Phillies, who earned $560,000.The US turned the Panamá Canal to Panamá. Louise Brown became the first human born from in vitro fertilization, and the average gas price in the United States was .70 cents per gallon.

But back to the Oakland Coliseum. A’s Manager Mark Kotsay and his players were a “class act” playing during a difficult season, not because they were trying not to finish last, they did not. They looked like a team that could be a .500 team starting next season, but because of all the circumstances with the team moving to Las Vegas, with an expected stop in Sacramento.

This time in history is not like it was back in 1978 when everybody got their news from three television Networks and a couple of local stations (no 500-plus cable channels like today). In the Bay Area, the San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Examiner, Oakland Tribune, and San José Mercury News were mostly our daily sources of information. That was when people actually read whole newspaper articles, not just a big-fat headline on YouTube.

Today, everybody has a cell phone in their pockets (including the players), and rumors, fake news, and innuendo move faster than the wind at old Candlestick Park in San Francisco during batting practice around 5 PM. As I remember, this includes the games during the Loma Prieta Earthquake in 1989.

I do not have an exact count of the many days, afternoons, and nights that I spend at the Oakland Coliseum, but I have called it “my second home” since the 1970s in the business. I not only called games on the radio but also covered games. In the 1980s, I broadcast games for Telemundo CH 48 San José, which was first a tiny station but is now part of NBC Universal.

No matter how you analyze the Oakland Athletics story, it is sad, and I, for one, feel like I was evicted from the Coliseum.

Adiós al Coliseo y todas las memorias.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does News and Commentary podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland era of the A’s closes with 6-4 loss at Seattle

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Last time anyone will ever see the Oakland A’s on deck circle which was used against the Seattle Mariners at T Mobile Park in Seattle on the very last day of the season Sun Sep 29, 2024 as the A’s will depart for Sacramento for the 2025 season going forward (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum

Sunday, September 29, 2024

For the final time, the name “Oakland” appeared on the visiting uniform of the Athletics Sunday at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. The A’s lost the 2024 season finale 6-4 to the Mariners.

For the next three seasons, the Athletics will only be identified with their nickname as they play at their temporary home, Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. The A’s finished their final season in the East Bay 69-93.

A charter member of the American League, the Athletics called Philadelphia home from 1901-1954. They resided in Kansas City from 1955-67 before owner Charles O. Finley moved the A’s to Oakland in 1968.

Mariners starter Logan Gilbert (9-12) was perfect for 5 2/3 innings, and Cal Raleigh belted a two-run home run to spark the Mariners’ victory. Gilbert struck out seven while ending the season with 208 2/3 innings to lead all of MLB – the first Seattle pitcher to do so.

Raleigh’s homer capped a four-run Mariners rally in the fifth inning, giving him 93 for his career – the most by a cancer in their first four seasons. He passed Mike Piazza on the list, and finished the season with 100 runs batted in – the first Seattle catcher to reach that plateau.

Justin Turner had a two-run single for Seattle and teammates Victor Robles and Julio Rodríguez added RBI base hits, as the Mariners finished 85-77.

Oakland starter Mitch Spence (8-10) gave up all six runs on seven hits while striking out five without a walk. Joe Boyle and Kyle Muller combined to throw 3 2/3 shutout innings in relief.

Tyler Nevin’s two-run double in the seventh put the A’s on the board, and Darell Hernaiz had a two-run double for Oakland in the top of the ninth.

There was a contingent of A’s fans who were part of the announced attendance of 42,177, often chanting “Let’s Go Oakland.” Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson threw the ceremonial first pitch wearing a half-A’s/half-Mariners jersey – Henderson spent most of his career with the A’s and played part of 2000 with Seattle.

San Francisco Giants and Oakland A’s 2024 season wrap up with Stephen Ruderman

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Former San Francisco Giants Jorge Soler who was dealt to the Atlanta Braves during the 2024 season. Was his leaving San Francisco something that impacted the Giants line up? (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants and Oakland A’s 2024 season wrap up with Stephen Ruderman:

San Francisco Giants: After a mediocre 2024 season it’s the hope for the San Francisco Giants that they’ll be better. The status regarding Giants team president Farhan Zaidi is yet to be determined and most likely it will be figured Monday. Zaidi was signed to an extension last season but he’s been very much been on the hot seat this season.

The Giants didn’t want him to be a lame duck, they didn’t want him to negotiate with free agents and the Giants have failed to make the playoffs and they failed to finish over .500 finishing 2024 80-82 losing their last game of the season on Sunday 6-1.

Farhan is a very smart guy he had his weird successes he started in 2019-2022. He’s had a hard time managing the day to day operations he’s a new age guy and you don’t let the new age guys run the show and hopefully that will be announced on Monday.

Sacramento A’s: Regarding the A’s move to Sacramento an artificial turf expert said went on Friday’s show and said temperatures can range from 160-180 degrees on the field at Sutter Health Park. Now the Players Association they cannot veto the Sacramento move.

However, the MLBPA to the conditions and they could kind of defacto veto it and not agree to the conditions. The way it’s set up the players will not be able to play on natural grass. One rumor is that the Giants minor league team the Rivercats would go to Fresno but good luck with that and they would have to put artificial turf in Fresno.

Stephen Ruderman covered San Francisco Giants and Oakland A’s baseball at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento A’s relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: How Sacramento fits in the baseball scheme of things

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Sutter Health Park in Sacramento aerial view the future home of the Sacramento A’s for the 2025 season (CBS TV file photo)

On the Sacramento A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel:

#1 Daniel, as this season winds down and the post season starts the renovations at Sutter Health Park the next step for the Sacramento A’s for their new home will face many new challenges.

#2 The Players Union who we’ve talked about several times, the idea of playing in a minor league park doesn’t not sit well and there are legitimate health and safety concerns that need to be addressed.

#3 One of those challenges the A’s will face at Sutter Health is accommodating sell out crowds but how to fit all the employees, press, front office employees, and players to make it all work.

#4 Daniel we didn’t get a chance to talk to you about the last day at the Oakland Coliseum last Thursday for the thousands of fans and the millions watching on TV it was on doubt one of the saddest days in baseball history seeing this storied franchise playing that last home game.

#5 One thing for sure Sutter Health Park is on the map with all the buzz about the remodeling of the park and trying to see if they can accommodate everyone. Sacramento is know for it’s NBA team the Kings but will further it’s position in the sports world with their adapting the A’s.

Join Daniel Dullum Sundays for the Sacramento A’s podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s Lose to Seattle In Tenth Inning 7-6 – Oakland Still Looking For 70th Win; M’s Ghost runner haunts A’s in 10th inning

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Oakland A’s starter Joey Estes adjusts his hat after giving up a bottom of the fourth inning home run to Seattle Mariners Cal Raleigh (foreground running the bases) at T Mobile Park in Seattle on Sat Sep 28, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (69-91) made a valiant effort to win their 70th game of the season but fell short in the tenth inning. Trailing 3-0 after three innings Oakland tied up the contest up in the sixth inning at 3-3. In the bottom of the ninth down 6-4 the A’s tied it up with two runs making 6-6. The Seattle Mariners (83-77) would win it in the bottom of the tenth 7-6 at T Mobile Park in Seattle.

Game recap: It was a pitchers duel through the first three innings of this game. Oakland had a chance in the first inning with two runners on base. Hancock walked Brent Rooker and allowed a JJ Bleday single with one out.

Shea Langeliers grounded into a double play to end the inning. The A’s Joey Estes allowed a Victor Robles double and walked Luke Raley but got out of the opening inning. Oakland had a single in the second inning and Seattle went three up and three out in the second as both pitchers had good starts. The A’s had the bases loaded in the third inning but came away empty squandering a great opportunity. The A’s Joey Estes had a three up three down third inning.

The A’s had nothing going offensively in the fourth inning. The Mariners broke the game open in the fourth starting off with a Cal Raleigh solo home run taking a 1-0 lead followed by Luke Raley advancing to first base after getting hit.

With no outs Estes allowed a Jorge Polanco single and Seattle had two runners on base. Estes got the next two at bats out but gave up a single to Victor Rojas driving J.P. Crawford and Raley home and Seattle had a 3-0 lead.

This game had turned sideways for Oakland but they righted the ship in the fifth inning. Brent Rooker hit his 39th home run of the season driving Max Schuemann and the A’s had something going trailing 3-2.

Tyler Soderstrom started off the sixth inning with a home run and this game was all tied up 3-3. The A’s had two runners on base in the sixth but left them stranded. Ross Stripling took over on the mound in the sixth inning in place of Estes and walked Mitch Haniger but dismissed the next three at bats.

Estes despite getting into a jam in the fourth inning had a pretty good showing going five innings allowing five hits, three runs, and two walks. He only had two strikeouts in the five innings. Seattle’s Emerson Hancock also went 5 1/3 innings allowing five hits three runs and four walks. He was relieved by JT Chargois and Tayler Saucedo to get out of the sixth inning.

Oakland went three up three down to start the seventh inning. Seattle would break the tie in the seventh inning. Luke Raley doubled driving Rodriguez home from first and with Jorge Polanco intentionally walked the Mariners had two runners on base with two outs. Tyler Ferguson who had taken over for Ross Stripling got out of the inning with minimal damage.

Oakland’s T.J.McFarland started the bottom of the eighth inning allowing a Dylan Moore single followed by a Moore stolen base to second. McFarland got the job done getting out of the inning and Oakland had one last inning to tie up the game or take the lead.

Oakland started a rally in the ninth inning off a Max Schuemann single. Lawrence Butler would strike out for the first out in the ninth. Brent Rooker popped out for the second out and it was down to JJ Bleday to keep this game going.

The rally continued when Bleday hit a single and the A’s had runners at first and third with Shea Langeliers at the plate and boy did he deliver hitting a home run giving Oakland a 6-4 lead. It was a huge blast to right field for #29 and Oakland’s third home run of the game. Seattle got Tyler Soderstrom out for the third out and Oakland was three outs away from their 70th win of the season.

The Mariners would send the top of the batting order to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning. Mason Miller took the mound for Oakland looking to lock down his 29 save of the season.

Seattle’s Julio Rodriguez hit a single off Miller and the Mariners had started a rally of their own. Cal Raleigh struck out for the first out of the inning. Luke Raley came to the plate and tied up this game for a two run home run 6-6.

The energy had turned on a dime and the Mariners were looking for a walk-off. Miller struck out Jorge Polanco for the second out with Mitch Haniger at the plate. Haniger struck out and it was on to extra innings.

Seth Brown struck out for the first out in the top of the tenth inning. Zach Gelof struck out for the second out and Nick Allen grounded out and Seattle had a second chance to win the game with a walk-off. The Scott Alexander took the mound for Oakland looking to keep this game going. The M’s J. P. Crawford grounded out and Leo Rivas advanced to third base. Justin Turner singled driving in Rivas for the walk-off 7-6.

Game notes: Friday night the A’s lost the first game of their final season series up in Seattle against the Mariners in a shut-out 2-0. The A’s were looking to win their 70th win of the season Saturday night in game two the A’s came close but it got away in the tenth inning. For A’s starter Joey Estes five innings, five hits, three earned runs, two walks, and two strikeouts.

Seth Brown struck out for the first out in the tenth inning. Zach Gelof struck out for the second out and Nick Allen grounded out and Seattle had a second chance to win the game with a walk-off. Scott Alexander took the mound for Oakland looking to keep this game going. J. P. Crawford grounded out and Leo Rivas advanced to third base. Justin Turner singled driving in Rivas for the walk-off 7-6.

The A’s complete their three game series Sunday with the Mariners and as an Oakland brand concluding their 2024 season. Starting pitcher for Oakland Sunday RHP Mitch Spence (8-9, 4.35) for Seattle RHP Logan Gilbert (8-12, 3.33) first pitch 12:10pm PDT at T Mobile Park.

MLB Baseball podcast with Augie Mesenburg: Giants hoping to sign Snell; Still hard to believe it’s farewell to Oakland for A’s

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San Francisco starter Blake Snell is not certain whether he will be returning next season or not. The Giants would like to see if they get his services. (AP News photo)

MLB Baseball podcast with Augie:

There were questions as to whether or not if San Francisco Giants starter Blake Snell was going to start today but because the St Louis Cardinals were a team that were not in spot for contention and it really didn’t matter that’s one of the reasons why he didn’t start.

The Giants are hoping that Snell would be back next season in a Giants uniform. Snell signed late this season and that’s probably part of the reason why the Giants season turned out as it did. With injuries and other factors. What is Snell going to do for next season that’s the question.

The date of Thursday Sep 26, 2024 the last Oakland A’s game in their history their first game for the A’s in Oakland April 17, 1968. Reggie Jackson was remembered for being the first Oakland hitter to hit a home run and that was on the road.

The first A’s player to hit a home run in Oakland was Rick Monday and he was the first ever draft pick for the Oakland A’s back in 1965 when they were still Kansas City. Monday hit that first and no one hit a home run in the A’s last homestand before they closed out the Oakland Coliseum.

Augie Mesenburg is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com and is a reporter at 1080 KWAI Honolulu

M’s, Woo, and 4 relievers blank A’s 2-0 at T Mobile Park to open series

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Seattle Mariners pitcher Bryan Woo went five innings throwing shutout ball against the Oakland A’s at T Mobile Park in Seattle on Fri Sep 27, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

The Oakland A’s were up in Seattle to take on the Mariners on Friday night. The A’s just completed their final homestand at the Oakland Coliseum on Thursday afternoon.

I wasn’t on the plane up to Seattle. However, I’m sure it was an emotional ride for the A’s after putting the seal on history at O.co. The A’s defeated the Texas Rangers in the final game in Oakland 3-2. On Friday, the A’s would begin their final series as the Oakland Athletics in Seattle. The A’s lost to the Seattle Mariners on Friday 2-0.

The A’s pitched well on Friday. The loss went to A’s starter JP Sears, who gave up two earned runs on four hits. Sears was plagued by the long ball, his only blemishes being one in the second and third innings, respectively. The bullpen performance of Hogan Harris and Scott Alexander held the Mariners scoreless the rest of the way.

The A’s offense recorded five hits, but nothing could amount to any runs.

The Mariners’ home runs came off the bat of Mitch Garver in the second inning and Cal Raleigh in the third inning.

Mariners pitching did a tremendous job holding the A’s to no runs. Starter Bryan Woo went five scoreless innings, giving up three hits, with eight strikeouts and a walk to set the tone. Gabe Speier, Gregory Santos, Tayler Saucedo, and Troy Taylor closed out the game for the Mariners in the pen, only giving up two hits.

The A’s will look to bounce back on Saturday as they take on the Mariners in game two of the three-game series in Seattle at 6:40 PM PST. Starting pitchers on Saturday for Oakland RHP Joey Estes (7-9, 4.99) for Seattle RHP Emerson Hancock (4-4, 4.72).