Tag: Oakland A’s

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Teachers Union Disagree with Schools Over Stadiums

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Clark County Education Association Executive Director John Vellardita is not part of Schools over Stadium and has been at odds with the NSEA since 2018 (file photo Nevada Independent)

Teachers Union Disagree with Schools Over Stadiums

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

There are more curves to this story, than the world’s famous Lombard Street in San Francisco. After a teacher’s union formed Schools Over Stadiums, in opposition to the Athletics building a park in Nevada, there is another teacher’s union in Las Vegas, Nevada who doesn’t support the Schools Over Stadium petition. I believe “not all teachers are created equal”.

This June, the Nevada State Education Association formed a political action committee called Schools Over Stadiums.Today they officially announced they have filed a referendum petition to repeal the funding of $380 million approved for the new A’s ballpark in Las Vegas. They claim that during that 82nd Legislative Session, Nevada legislators “failed to hear a single bill to reduce Nevada’s overcrowded classrooms.”

That same month in June, Nevada’s Governor Lombardo signed State Bill 1. Under this bill, $380 million in public funds for the ballpark were set aside. Steve Hill (an important player in Las Vegas) is the CEO and President of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. According to Hill, room taxes from hotels in Las Vegas generated in the new Sports and Innovation District would help cover some of those costs.

It’s the same structure they put together to pay for Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders. The MLB owners must approve the team moving to Las Vegas; a vote is expected in December. The demolition of the Tropicana, where the A’s have planned to build their new ballpark, is scheduled right after the owners vote.

The Nevada Secretary of State website, on the Schools Over Stadiums, specifies they would need hundreds of thousands of valid signatures from registered Nevada voters before it goes onto the ballot. For example, during the 2022 General Election, petitioners required at least 10% of the voters who voted during the previous General Election. In 2022, 10% meant 140,777 valid signatures. They will need to be collected and submitted by July 8, 2024. As of today, they haven’t started the collection of signatures yet, according to Schools Over Stadiums officials.

Not all Nevada Teachers Unions are reading from the same playbook. The Clark County Education Association (CCEA), which is not affiliated with NSEA and is the official bargaining unit for 18,000 licensed educators, including teachers in the Clark County School District (Las Vegas, the most populous city in the State), is not backing the “Schools Over Stadiums” petition.

CCEA and the statewide union have been at odds since 2018, when the former broke with NSEA.  “We’re not involved, and we wouldn’t follow the lead of an irrelevant organization,” Clark County Education Association Executive Director John Vellardita said in June, adding that Democrats passed the bill, a Republican governor signed it, and the stadium seems settled.

The Oakland A’s also signed a labor agreement with the Nevada Building Trades covering the stadium and has an agreement with the ballpark’s employees. This is the largest labor union in Nevada, the hospitality labor force associated with the AFL-CIO.

The Oakland A’s announced their schedule for the 2024 season, all home games will be played at the Oakland Coliseum.

 Note: In 2005 MLB moved the Montreal Expos to the American capital and renamed them the Washington Nationals. Montreal is the only city that has lost a significant league franchise since 1901 without eventually getting another team.

If the Oakland A’s move to Las Vegas, will Oakland get an expansion team? Nobody could answer that today, but other cities are “in line” to get an MLB expansion team. This June five of San José’s Mayors sent Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred a letter, asking MLB to permanently suspend territorial rights and create and avenue for the city to get an expansion team. San Jose, the Bay Area’s largest city wants a Major League team and if would merit great consideration, if the A’s leave for Las Vegas.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez for the Oakland A’s action on the A’s Spanish radio network 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburgh and News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Petitions to hit Nevada districts to stop public funding of A’s Vegas ballpark

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Schools over Stadiums filed for a petition to get enough signatures on the ballot in four districts in Nevada to stop use of public funds for the A’s Tropicana ballpark in Las Vegas. (image from the Schools over Stadiums twitter account)

On the A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 Jerry, Dawn Etcheverry, a music teacher and President of NSEA and Schools Over Stadiums in Nevada is moving on a petition referendum to stop the use of public funding tax dollars that would be used to build a ballpark at the Tropicana hotel and casino that was approved by the Nevada State Legislation in June in a special session.

#2 Etcheverry said the petition is pursuing every path possible to stop the use of public funding to pay for the Tropicana Park for a future Las Vegas A’s relocation. Etcheverry said that the Nevada voters were shutout in the process and didn’t have a say in the use of public funds for paying for the ballpark to the tune of $380 million.

#3 The organization Schools over Stadiums goal is to make sure public funding goes to public schools and not the Tropicana Park and once enough signatures are on the petitions from four the Nevada districts including Clark County which Las Vegas and Tropicana hotel are a part of the measure to stop using public money will be put on the ballot.

#4 If Nevadans vote to stop the use of public funds to build the Tropicana ball park succeeds the funding for the ballpark ceases and the A’s will have to seek private funding if they want to continue pursuing Las Vegas. They possibly could go back to the City of Oakland and negotiate terms about building at Howard Terminal.

#5 If everything goes as planned Schools over Stadiums will have the vote in November 2024, one year and two months from now. The MLB owners are voting on the A’s relocation in December. If the owners vote yes to relocate the A’s, the Schools over Stadiums measure could hold up shovels in the ground at the Tropicana until the voters have their say in Nov 2024.

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

A’s down Blue Jays 5-2; Oakland avoids getting swept by Toronto

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Oakland Athletics’ Kevin Smith hits a three-run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the sixth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Thu Sep 6, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

Oakland- The Oakland A’s beat the Toronto Blue Jays Wednesday afternoon 5-2 to avoid being swept by the Jays. The A’s starter, JP Sears, earned his fourth win of the year. It took work to defeat a very good Blue Jay team. The Jays are in contention to make the playoffs in the American League.

Their starter, lefty Hyan Jin Ryu, baffled the A’s for the game’s first four innings. Ryu used various low curves, changeups, cutters, and four-seam fastballs to keep the A’s offense off balance. The curves came in around 62 miles per hour, and the changeups were in the 70 miles per hour category, the cutters in the eighties, and his fastball was timed at 91 miles per hour.

Also a lefty, Sears held the powerful Blue Jay lineup to four hits and one run in five innings. Sears made it through the Jays’ lineup three times and allowed only one run.

Toronto scored the first run of the game in the top of the second. Jays’ right-fielder Cavan Biggio led off the inning with a double. Sears retired Santiago Espinal for the first out. Shortstop Ernie Clement singled to drive in Biggio. Clement went to second on the throw to the plate. Sears was able to get out of the inning without any further damage. The Jays lead 1-0 midway through the second.

The A’s took the lead in the bottom of the fourth. A’s left-fielder Brent Rooker led off with a double. Rooker was thrown out at third, attempting to advance on Ryan Noda’s grounder to first. Jay’s first baseman, Vladamir Guerrero, Jr.’s throw to third nailed Rooker for the first out.

Rya retired Jordan Diaz for the second out. A’s catcher Carlos Ruiz sent Ryu’s 90 mph four-seam fastball into the seats near the foul pole in left field. The A’s lead 2-1 after four.

The A’s put three runs on the board in the bottom of the seventh. Trevor Richards was now pitching for Toronto. The first two hitters Richards faced, Jordan Diaz and Carlos Perez, singled. A’s third baseman homered for the fifth time this season to give the A’a a 5-1 lead after six.

With one out in the top of the eighth, Toronto’s second baseman Davis Schneider homered to make it a 5-2 game. A’s reliever Dany Jimenez regained his composure and retired the next two Toronto hitters to end the inning.

The A’s closer, Trevor May, held the Jays scoreless in the ninth to preserve the win for JP Sears. The A’s win 5-2.

Game Notes- With the win, the A’s improved to 43-97. The A’s are now 9-7 in their last sixteen games and are showing signs of improvement. The A’s finished the six-game homestand with a record of 4-2. The Blue Jays fall to 77-63.

The hitting stars for Oakland were catcher Carlos Perez and Kevin Smith. Perez’s two-run blast in the fourth gave the A’s the lead. Smith’s three-run Earl Weaver special in the sixth gave the A’s an unsurmountable advantage.

Mark Kotsay used four relievers Wednesday afternoon. Mason Miller returned to action after a long layoff on the IL. Miller pitched two innings and did not allow a hit. Dany Jimenez pitched the eighth and gave up a solo home run to Toronto’s Davis Schneider. Trevor May earned his 18th save of the year with a scoreless ninth inning.

The A’s are off on Thursday. Oakland will face the Rangers on Friday in Arlington, Texas. Paul Blackburn (4-4 ERA 3.81) will be on the mound, hoping to win his fifth of the year. The Rangers have yet to announce their starter.

The time of the game was two hours and nineteen minutes. There were 3,871 fans in attendance.

Oakland A’s report: Schools over Stadiums files petition to get initiative on ballot to stop public funding for A’s Vegas ballpark

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Rendering of the Las Vegas Tropicana Hotel and Casino ballpark. If successful the ballpark is expected to be completed by 2028 upon the approval vote of MLB owners in Dec 2023. Schools over Stadiums is attempting to put a measure on the ballot stopping public funding of the Vegas ballpark that vote could take place in Nov 2024. (rendering from the Oakland A’s)

By Jerry Feitelberg

Schools over Stadium a group who is working with the Nevada State Education Association filed a referendum petition to get a measure on the ballot that would prevent public funds to pay for a new A’s ballpark at the Tropicana hotel and casino on the Las Vegas strip.

Dawn Etcheverry who is president of the NSEA and Schools over Stadiums and is a music teacher said that the organization is committed to pursue every possible path to stop the use of public funds to subsidize a new ballpark for owner John Fisher and the Oakland A’s.

Etcheverry raised the point that the people of Nevada did not have a say in the process during the Nevada State Legislature special session on public funds use for the ballpark. Etcheverry said that the priorities to use public funding for a stadium over schools and education in the state are misguided and that Nevada is 48th in the state on education should be priority for public funding rather than spending those funds on the Tropicana ballpark.

Etcheverry stated that the funds should go to Nevadans who depend on that money to go to public schools rather than the ballpark. Etcheverry pointed out that the 82nd Legislative session overlooked the overcrowding in classrooms in the state of Nevada, the lack of teachers, and the state has ignored streams of incomes for schools and public education.

If there are enough signatures on the petitions from the four Nevada districts which includes Clark County where the A’s plan to build at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas strip. The measure will be placed on the ballot and if the voters say no to public spending for the A’s new ballpark the A’s move to Las Vegas could be dead unless Fisher can find $380 million in private money for the Vegas ballpark.

Jerry Feitelberg is an Oakland A’s reporter for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s commentary: What John Fisher Can Learn From San Jose Teams

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Oakland A’s owner John Fisher sitting in the Oakland A’s dugout is the subject of today’s feature Oakland A’s commentary (NBC Bay Area file photo)

Wednesday, September 6th, 2023

By Troy Ewers

OAKLAND– With the end of the MLB season coming at the end of the month and the Oakland A’s two losses away from clinching their second consecutive last place finish in the AL West, the cloud looming over the A’s organization is the threat of leaving Oakland California.

The 2023 season was the year of the boycott. The year of “SELL THE TEAM” chants not just filling the Coliseum, but Oracle Park, the All Star Game in Seattle, and even areas outside of baseball, the boycott was the most talked about thing in Major League Baseball.

The change of location stems from no renovation to the current Coliseum or a new ballpark, but after the stubbornness of owner John Fisher, the negotiations of relocation became the norm starting in 2021. After two years of meetings and talks, Las Vegas became the nominee after Nevada approved a potential $380 million funding deal and the club submitting its relocation paperwork in August of 2023. 

At this point in the conversation, if everything is approved, the new stadium would be completed in Vegas for the 2027 season with Oakland most likely playing the three transition years in either Reno or Sacramento, but in the grand scheme of things, Oakland moving says John Fisher didn’t learn from other Bay Area entities.

Over the past weekend, San Jose State football had their first home game of the season in their newly renovated stadium with new facilities. Building these facilities and having their first game sell out with approximately 22,000 people, a number the A’s would love to have averaged this season, SJSU has the ability to attract big recruits, which will give them a better chance to win games, which in theory can bring more money to the school and an area of San Jose.

The San Jose Earthquakes opened their $100 million stadium that fits 18,000 in 2015 and even with an average team, the stadium is an attraction in the city (they just need better parking). These new facilities in San Jose aren’t just money makers for the organizations, but they make the area they’re in an attraction.

A sign at one of the A’s games said “Fisher should learn from the Quakes” and that sign may go on deaf ears, but it is the sad realization of where we are in this Oakland/Vegas location conversation, all that needed to be done was to build something new. 

In one of the most famous baseball movies ever, Field of Dreams, the most famous quote from the film is “if you build it they will come”, this quote contextually explains that if you build a baseball field, even in the middle of a corn field, people will show up to watch them play baseball.

In a city that lost the football team that was a cultural representation of the city, then lost the best basketball team of the last decade, and is experiencing a poverty problem that is reminiscent of Detroit after the 70’s, to lose a baseball team with such history would devastate the city to possibly irreversible magnitudes, especially if it’s announced after the season. 

Troy Ewers is a beat reporter for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s Lose 7-1 to Blue Jays; Toronto six run 7th Inning Rally does in Oakland

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Oakland A’s first baseman Ryan Noda (49) tried to make a catch in foul ground in front of the Toronto Blue Jays dugout and is braced by the Blue Jays Kevin Kiermaier (right) on a ball that was hit by the Blue Jays Ernie Clement at the Oakland Coliseum on Tue Sep 5, 2023 (AP News photo)

Tuesday, September 5th, 2023

By Troy Ewers 

Oakland. CA – On Rickey Henderson Field in the Oakland Coliseum, the Oakland A’s face the Toronto Blue Jays for the second game of a three game series. The A’s had a three game winning streak snapped in Monday’s game with a loss to Toronto 6-5, tying the fifth most losses in A’s history. On the mound for the A’s this game was Ken Waldichuk and Chris Bassitt for the Jays.  The Jays had a six run seventh inning rally on Tuesday night for a 7-1 win.

The first four innings started off scoreless with both teams even at three hits, but both pitchers dealing and having a total of eight strikeouts (three for Waldichuk and five for Bassitt). In the fifth inning the season tradition of fans chanting “sell the team” began with all 4,751 people both Oakland and Toronto fans, engaging in the chant. 

In the sixth inning a rally by Toronto started with a Davis Schneider walk and then a Vlad Jr. single, which extended his on base streak to 21 games, but the rally was halted when Whit Merrifield grounded into a double play, continuing the scoreless game. 

The A’s changed pitchers in the seventh to give Waldichuk a break and they brought in Zach Neal. Waldichuk went six innings, allowing four hits, walking, and striking out three batters. Zach Neal wasn’t in the game long at all, walking three out of the four batters he faced and striking out the one he didn’t walk and he was replaced after 19 pitches and bases loaded.

Sam Long came to replace Neal and Toronto’s Kevin Kiermaier hit a single to end this scoreless war of attrition, scoring Alejandro Kirk, 1-0 Blue Jays. This opened the floodgates and the rally began for Toronto. George Springer followed up with two runs when he hit a single that scored Cavan Biggio and Santiago Espinal, 3-0 Blue Jays.

The avalanche didn’t stop as Davis Schneider hit a double that scored Springer, making it 4-0. Right after that and a Guerrero Jr. intentional walk, Whit Merrifield hit a sac fly that scored Springer and finally with two outs, the score was 5-0 Blue Jays.

Kirk who started the inning was back at the plate and walked again, and the same result for Biggio, but when he was walked, it scored another run and after a fly out from Horwitz, the devastating inning for Oakland was finally over, but the damage was done, 6-0 Toronto. 

The A’s weren’t going to go out quietly as with two outs and Seth Brown on second, Jordan Diaz hit a single and scored Brown to finally get Oakland on the board, 6-1. The eighth inning started with Toronto right back on the head of the A’s when Springer hit an RBI single that scored Kiermaier, 7-1 Blue Jays.

The ninth was the last hope to comeback from six runs for Oakland and Toronto closer Bowden Francis struck out the side and the Blue Jays won, 7-1. The winning pitcher is Chris Bassitt who improved his record to 14-7 and the loss goes to Zach Neal (1-1).

The A’s bullpen is now 3-3 with a horrendous ERA. The next game for Oakland is the last game of the series, Wednesday September 5th and JP Sears (3-11, 4.60) and Hyun Jin Ryu (3-1, 2.48) will be on the mound for day game to end this series and the A’s homestand.

Jays 3 run tenth enough to get by A’s 6-5 at Coliseum

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Oakland Athletics’ Lawrence Butler (22) is congratulated by Nick Allen (2) after hitting a home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fifth inning at Oakland Coliseum on Sun Sep 4, 2023 (AP News photo)

Toronto (76-62 ).     000 030 000 3.  –   6.  8. 0

Oakland (42-96).      o00  011 100  2. –   5.   8  0.  10 innings 

Time: 3:00    

Attendance: 9,062

Monday, September 4, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND —Almost in spite of themselves the A’s yesterday finished up a sweep of their three game series against the Angels, who were, until Shohei Ohtani tore his  ulnar collateral ligament last week, serious contenders for a berth in the post season play offs.

This afternoon, as they opened another three game series, it was against a more imposing  squad, the Toronto Blue Jays, who entered the day in a virtual tie with Houston for third place in the American League wild card standings. 

Oakland, even though they had won eight of their last 13 games, already had been mathematically eliminated from any chance of reaching  ,500. A win today   them from the race to the bottom, but they fell short and dropped a 10 inning thriller to Toronto Blue Jays, 6-5.

The A’s entrusted the starting role to rookie Luis Medina, fresh off the 15 day injured list.his 2-7, 5.92 record.  The Dominican right hander came to the A’s along with Ken Waldichuk, JP Sears, and infielder Cooper Bowman in the deal that sent Frankie Montás and Lou Trivino to the Bronx and came to work today with a big league record of 3-8, 5.44 and a WHIP of  1.53, all of it earned this season. He turned in four innings of splendid work before falling apart in the fifth.

He pitched a total of 4-2/3 frames and yielded three runs, all earned, on three hits and an equal number of walks, not to mention a hit batter. He threw 70 pitches, 41 for strikes.  He ended up with a no decision and a 3-8 5.46 record. The Jays’ starter, right handed José Berríos lost the last game he’d pitched, surrendering five runs, all earned, over six frames against the Nationals.

He brought a season record of 9-10, 3.70 and a lifetime mark of 81-64, 4.17 to the Coliseum when he faced the Athletics this warm and sunny Labor Day, an afternoon that invited home runs. He, like Medina, got a no decision for his efforts.. He threw 84 pitches, 57 for strikes over six innings in and allowed two runs, both of them earned, on four hits, two of which left the park, and a walk and returned to the hotel. with a record of 9-10, 3.68.

The teams traded goose eggs  over four innings, until Medina, who had held Toronto to a one hit, one walk, and one hit batter until then, lost his control and walked  the first two Jays he faced, Alejandro Kirk and Daulton Varsho. Ernie Clement’s single to center loaded the bases, and it looked as if Medina might pull a Houdini when Kevin Kiermaier hit into an Allen to Noda 6-3 double play.

Kirk scored on the play, but now there were two down with only a runner on first. But it was not to be. George Springer  doubled to right to drive  Varsho in with Toronto’s second run and then, with Sean Newcomb on the mound after Springer’s two bagger, came home on Cavin Biggio’s single to left.

The visitors’ three run lead shrank to two with Lawrence Butler’s two out solo round tripper in the home fifth. The 417 foot blast into center field was the rookie’s third home run and seventh run batted in and came on an 81.7 mph slurve and left Butler’s bat at 107.6mph.

The A’s would have tied it up in the bottom of the sixth if Gelof, who had singled to center and stole second hadn’t been picked off before the next pitch was thrown. Noda was at bat, and slammed a 402 foot home run into the nearly empty right field seats. The first baseman’s 14th dinger of the season closed the gap to 3-2.

Yimi García took over for Berríos after the select gathering of 9,062 had finished singing “Take Me Out to the ball Game.” After  García retired Brown, Jordan Díaz took the ball out of the park and tied the game at three all. His four bagger took a hanging curve into center field,  397 feet from the plate. It was his 10th homer of ’23 and his 24th RBI.

Lucas Erceg pitched the top of the eighth, gave up a walk and a single but escaped unscathed.Jay Jackson succeeded García in the home half of that inning. Allen greeted him with a single,  went to second on Kemp’s sacrifice bunt and to third on Geloff’s grounder that almost got past diving third baseman Biggio’s glove. That scenario brought Génesis Cabrera to the mound. He got Noda a ground out to first, and we moved into the ninth inning with the score still tied at 3-3.

With the help of a beautiful diving catch by Kemp of Varsho’s dying quail to left, Erceg retired the side in order to give Oakland a chance to win in regulation.  Rooker, who had struck out in all of his three previous plate appearances, led off with a line single to center. Aledmys Díaz, batting for Brown, went down swinging. 

Jordan Romano replaced Cabrera on the mound to face Jordan Díaz. Ruiz stole second on Romano’s first pitch and stole third while Díaz was swinging at strike three. Langeliers fouled out to first, and we went into extra innings. Francisco Pérez relieved  Erceg in the top of the tenth.

Pinch hitter Santiago Espinal whacked on a double to left on his first pitch, driving in zombie runner Ernie Clement. Springer grounded out to third. Biggio hit a solid single to center that brought in Espinal with the second Blue Jay tally of the tenth. That was it for Pérez; Spencer Patton moved from the pen to the mound and walked Guerrero. 

Horowitz sent an opposite field liner between Kemp in left and Butler in center. It looked like, and originally was called as, an RBI double, but Oakland challenged that ruling, and a reply showed that the ball had gotten lodged under the fence. Biggio had to return to third. Pattongave Merryfield an intentional walk and then retired Kirk and Varsho.

Butler was the A’s first batter in their desperate bid to stay alive in the tenth. He stunned the crowd and the Blue Jays with his second home run of the day, a 403 foot rocket into the right center field seats, bringing in zombie runner Langeliers and cutting Toronto’s lead t 6-5.

It stayed there after Tyler Soderstrom struck out pinch hitting for Allen, Kemp walked, and Gelof hit into a 6-4-3 game ending twin killing. Romano was the winning pitcher and now has a 5-5, 2.54 record. The loss went to Pérez, now is 1-2, 6.75.

Oakland’s defeat 42-96 brought their won-lost percentage down to .304, way better the  Cleveland Spiders, who on this day in 1899 lost both ends of a double header in Cincinnati, dropping their record to 19-105, .153, which still was better than their still standing season  record of all time major league losers, 20-134, .130.

The A’s no longer seem a threat to erase the memory of the loveable New York Mets of 1962, who were defeated a, 5-1, at Forbes Field by Harvey Haddix and the Pittsburgh Pirates on September 4, falling to 35-106, .248. They would rise to 40-120, .250 by the season’s end, when they established the modern era record for futility.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, the Jays will send ex-Athletic righty Chris Bassitt (13-7, 3.81) against southpaw Ken Waldichuk (2-7, .5.92) for a 6:40 start at the Coliseum

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: A’s got those rally caps and rally towels working on Sunday

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Oakland A’s Ryan Noda (49) is congratulated by Zack Gelof (20) after Noda’s two run home run in the bottom of the sixth at the Oakland Coliseum against the Los Angeles Angels on Sun Sep 3, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast:

#1 Oakland A’s pinch hitter Tony Kemp belted a two run seventh inning single which helped the A’s motor past the visiting Los Angeles Angels at the Coliseum for a four run win 10-6 and pick up a three game sweep.

#2 A’s manager Mark Kotsay that sixth inning rally was a good sign and that the hitting was feeding off each other to help the A’s get past the Angels.

#3 The A’s who had a 4-3 lead lost that lead when the Angels Luis Rengifo slugged his 15th home run of the season to tie up the game 4-4.

#4 The A’s never gave up hope scoring six runs in the bottom of the seventh and held onto the lead despite the Angels trying to play catch in the top of the ninth scoring two runs but falling four runs short in the loss.

#5 The Toronto Blue Jays come calling on Monday afternoon at 1:07pm PT starting pitcher for the Jays Jose Berrios (9-10 ERA 3.70) for the A’s Ken Waldichuk ((2-7 ERA 5.92) at the Oakland Coliseum.

Join Barbara for the A’s podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Fallen Angels: A’s rally in 6th and 7th innings to sweep Halos 10-6 at Coliseum

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Oakland Athletics’ Tony Kemp, right, watches his two-run single that scored Ryan Noda and Zack Gelof during the seventh inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Sun Sep 3, 2023 (AP News photo)

Los Angeles (64-73).    000 300 102 – 6.  9. 2

Oakland (42-95).          000 004 60x -10 10 1

Time: 3:09.    

Attendance: 12,425

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–The moribund Las Vegas bound Oakland Athletics picked up their fourth win in eight games last night in a thriller in which five relievers followed up a strong start by Paul Blackburn to preserve a one run home team triumph.

This Sunday afternoon, Oakland started with Kyle Muller, the Braves second round pick in the 2016 draft. He was 1-5, 7.67 in his 14 big league appearances of the season, all of them with Oakland and 12 as a starter, when he threw the first pitch at 1:07 warm and clear Sunday afternoon.

After Muller threw his 78th and last pitch, Muller was on the hook for the loss. He’d allowed three runs, all earned, on five hits, one for the distance, a walk, and a wild pitch. Although it’s not a pitching statistic, it’s noteworthy that he committed one error.

Muller escaped with a no decision and now has a record of 1-5 ERA 7.62. It was the second time through the lineup that did Muller in. In spite of that, the A’s gained the fifth win in nine contests with a sixth run outburst in the seventh frame that lifted them to 42-95.

.The visitors from Orange County also went with a southpaw, Tyler Anderson, who had a game time record of 5-6, 5.58. He looked bad in his last start, an August 29th 12-7 loss in Philadelphia in which he gave up six runs, all earned, on seven hits, and three walks.

Before today, his lifetime record against Oakland was 3-0, 0.79. He was great for five frames, Then he fell apart and ended up with a no decision for 5-1/3 innings, in which he allowed three runs, all earned, on three hits, three walks, and a wild pitch. 52 of his 81 offerings  counted as strikes. His record now stands at 5-6, 5.55.

Things fell apart for the A’s in the top of the fourth. Muller had been breezing along, having allowed only a hit and a walk to the first 12 batters he faced, Then Randal Grichuk singled to left, and Eduarado’s Escobar’s sixth home run of the year, a solid fly that cleared the left center field wall into the bleachers and carried 406 feet, drove him home and put LA up, 2-0.

Zack Gelof made a spectacular leaping catch of Michael Stefanic’s line drive that was headed to right field to keep the bases empty and record the second out. But Mickey Moniak singled to right center and got to third when  Muller’s pick off throw went under Noda’s glove and deep into foul territory. Moments later, Chad Wallace smacked a two bagger to right center and it was 3-0, Los Angeles.

The Angels’ lead was in jeopardy in the bottom of the frame. Oakland loaded the bases with none out on walks to Gelof, Ryan Noda, and Brent Rooker. Then designated hitter Carlos Pérez went down swinging for the second time in as many at bats, and Jordan Díaz fouled out to first. That brought up Shea Langeliers, who consummated the blown save by fanning on a 2-2 count.

Muller didn’t come out to pitch the fifth. Adrián Martinez did.

It took a video review of the call at first base on Gelof’s leadoff grounder to third in the fourth for the  A’s to get their first hit. Noda ended Anderson’s bid for a shutout with a 406 foot blast into the center field seats for is 13th home run and  44th and 45th RBI of the year, bringing the A’s to within a run of the visitors.  Carlos Pérez followed with a single to left that drove Anderson to the showers.

Right hander Andrew Wantz entered the game, a move Oakland countered by sending Seth Brown to the plate to hit for Jordan Díaz. Brown responded with his 13th home run, a huge blast over the center field fence into the alley in front of the Holy Toledo sign. The Athletics now led 4-3. Aledmys Díaz followed that tough act to follow with a drive off the left field auxiliary scoreboard. He died on third, but Oakland was back in the game.

Back in the game, but no longer in the lead for long. Luis Rengifo sent a 392 foot over the right center field fence with one down in the top of the seventh to tie things up at four. Out went Martínez. In came Francisco Pérez. Up came Ohtani. Pérez fanned him and got Drury out on a fly to right to end the inning. 

José Soriano relieved Wantz to open the home seventh. Lawrence Butler pinch hit for Ruíz and grounded out to short. Then the bottom fell out for the Angels. Gelof singled to left. Nola hit a bounder to the mound; Soriano threw it into center field for an error on the fielder’s choice, and now the A’s had runners on the corners.

A base on balls to Rooker loaded the sacks. Tony Kemp pinch hit for Pérez and singled to center, driving in Gelof. Rooker scored on center fielder Moniak’s errant throw, which also allowed Kemp to advance to third.

The Angels challenged Kemp’s placement at the hot corner, but a video review confirmed it. Langliers then doubled to right, plating Kemp and Brown, who had been granted an intentional pass. José Marte relieved the beleaguered Soriano and yielded a single to Aledmys Díaz, sending Langliers to third before Allen ended lined  out to third, but Butler continued the attack with an infield single that brought Langliers in with the A’s 10th run. They  led, 10-4 when Gelof flew out to end the inning.

Dany Jiménez hurled a perfect top of the eighth for the A’s, and Kolton Ingram shut the A’s down in their half of that inning.

Kirby Snead entered the game to mop up in the ninth for Oakland, but Trevor May was warming up in the bullpen by the time a one out Chad Wallace single, two walks, a passed ball and Rengifo’s single had made it a 10-6 game with Ohtani at bat and a runner on first.

The mighty Ohtani struck out for the second straight time. Rengifo went to second on Snead’s second wild pitch of the frame. Snead then walked Drury, and May, who had earned the save on Saturday, in to face Grichuk. Mike Moustakas pinch hit for him and fanned on three pitches.

Pérez was the winning pitcher and now has a record of 1-1, 5.23. Soriano got tagged with the loss, dropping him to 0-1, 4.36. May earned his 17th save and brought his ERA under 4.00.  It’s now 3.99.

When this afternoon’s last out was recorded, the Athletics’ won-lost record had climbed to 41-95, 301   Depressing, but not in the class of the  Cleveland Spiders who on this day in 1899 lost 6-3 at Cincinnati and fell to 19-104, .183 on their way to a mind boggling all time major league record of 20-134, .1 30.

The modern era’s worst team was the New York Mets, who in 1962 finished their inaugural season at 40-120, .250. September 3 found them in Pittsburgh for a double header at Forbes Field, where they lost both games. They dropped the opener, 2-0, and were edged in the nightcap, 5-4. The losing pitcher in the second contest was Roger Craig. Humm, baby.

The Toronto Blue Jays come to town Monday, Labor Day, for the first of a three game series. That game on Monday will feature Oakland’s Ken Waldichuk (2–7, 5.92)  and Toronto’s José Berríos (9-10, 3.70) as the probable starters first pitch at 1:07pm PT.

A’s edge Angels 2-1 for two wins in a row at Coliseum

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Oakland Athletics’ Brent Rooker hits a two-run home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the fourth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat Sep 2, 2023 (AP News photo)

Los Angeles (64-72). 100 000 000 – 1. 6. 0

Oakland (41-95). 000 200 00x – 2 1. 0

Time: 2:31

Attendance: 13,709

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–The press box was jammed, though not jam packed, Saturday afternoon with members of the Japanese media, who had come to see Shohei Ohtani, who still is a draw, even when he’s confined to the role of designated hitter.

This was in contrast to the 12,709 paying customers sprinkled around the stands on a warm but overcast afternoon in the once magnificent Oakland Coliseum. The game was a beauty, a hard fought 2-1 Oakland victory over the visitors from Anaheim.

Paul Blackburn, Oakland’s starter, was 3-4, 3.93 when he came to work but had more encouraging numbers for his last seven starts, 2-2, 2.36. When Kirby Snead relieved him to start the sixth, Blackburn had thrown 86 pitched, 51 of which counted as strikes.

Blackburn allowed one run, which was earned, on four hits and three walks, one of them intentional, while striking out four. Blackburn earned his fourth win against as many defeats and lowered his earned run average to. 4-4, 3.81. Trevor May handled the Halos in the ninth.

Spencer Patton replaced Snead after the lefty hurled a scoreless sixth, followed by Dany Jiménez, who got through the eighth without yielding anything more dangerous than a walk to Randall Griechuk, whom the Angels had put on the waiver wire but took back when no one claimed him.

Angels manager, Berkeley alum Phil Nevin also chose a right hander to start for his team, Griffin Channing, a veteran of four big league seasons. This was his 18th start of the season, and he brought a 7-4, 4.38 record to it, 4-2, 3.32 over his 10 previous starts.

He features a four seamer, which he uses 35% of the time, slider (32.4%), change of pace (19.9%), curve (12.1%), and a very occasional (0.6%) sinker. He lasted six innings, yielding to Aaron Loup, who pitched a perfect seventh, and Andrew Wantz, who shut the A’s out in the eighth, allowing only a single to right.

Canning faced 22 Athletics batters and threw 89 pitches, 61 going as strikes. He allowed a pair of runs, both earned, on four hits, including a costly two run homer. He didn’t allow a single walk and struck out eight. He was charged with a tough loss, and his record now stands at 7-5 4.30.

The Angels took an early lead, loading the bases with one out in the top of the first. on walks to the first two batters Blackburn faced, rookie Nolan Schanuel, who now has reached base safely in all of his first 12 major league games, and Ohtani.

After Brandon Drury went down swinging, a single to center by Mike Moustakas loaded the bases. Luis Rengifo lofted a fly to shallow right; Nick Allen made a nice, tumbling catch of it, and the sacrifice fly brought in Schanuel with the game’s first run.

Oakland threatened in the bottom of the second after Seth Brown’s one out double to right, but Jordan Diaz fanned, and Mickey Moniak corralled Díaz’s towering fly to the center field wall

They broke through in the fourth. Ryan Noda lined a one out opposite field single down the left field line. Then Brent Rooker sent a 436 foot shot over the left center field wall for his 23rd round tripper of the year. The one and two change up came in at 89.7mph and left at 106mph. I guess that’s why Canning throws that pitch only 0.6% of the time.

The move to replace Snead with Patton in the seventh was not a successful one. Eduardo Escobar hit a leadoff single to right and stole second. Patton issued back to back walks to Kyren Paris and Schanuel. Meanwhile, Andrew Velázquez, running for Escobar, stole second and was thrown out trying to steal third. This brought up Ohtani with runners on first and second and one out.

It also brought Sam Long, a lefty, out of the bullpen to face the Halos’ left handed DH, who popped an infield fly to short. Then Brandon Drury flew out to Lawrence Butler in left center. The A’s had dodged the Angels’ bullets.

Trevor May went to the mound in the visitors’ ninth trying to protect a 2-1 lead and earn his 16th save in 19 attempts. He issued a lead off walk to Velázquez, who went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Paris, who went to third on Schanuel’s ground out to first.

Once more Ohtani came up with a chance to undo the A’s advantage. Once more Ohtani received an intentional walk. May then came through by getting Drury one more to fly out to center.

Saturday afternoon’s win leaves Oakland 41-95, 3.01, which looks good when compared with the record of the ill-fated Cleveland Spiders on this day in 1899, 19-102, 1.57. They were idle that day but still had 33 games left in the season, which they finished at 20-134, .130. That’s one record for futility that the A’s won’t match this year.

They are, however, still in the running against the 1962 New York Mets, the gold standard for ineffectiveness in the modern era. The not yet Amazin’s squeaked by Bobby Shantz and the Cardinals in Sportsman’s Park, 4-1, to raise their record to 35-103, .254, just a tad better than the 40-120, .250 at which they finished their season in hell.

Sunday, the Angels, who, by the way, are trying to get a new stadium, will send left hander Tyler Anderson (5-6,5.58) against an as yet unnamed Oakland pitcher.