Tag: Oakland A’s

Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong: LeBron will think it over about retirement; Rogers says Jets is like a dream job; plus much more

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LeBron James (6) of the Los Angeles Lakers says he not sure if he will retire from basketball skipped the Lakers practice facility press conference on Tue May 23, 2023 at Crypto Arena in Los Angeles. The Lakers were swept in four games by the Denver Nuggets and eliminated from the 2023 post season. (AP News photo)

On Headline Sports podcast with Jessica:

#1 Los Angeles Lakers future Hall of Famer and star LeBron James did not show up for the Lakers practice facility the day after the Lakers were swept out of the playoffs by the Denver Nuggets. All players on the Lakers were present and accounted for except LeBron who said he’s taking time off to consider whether he will retire or not.

#2 New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rogers is having a great time with his new team but sat out of practice on Tuesday due to a minor calf muscle strain. Rogers is no doubt enjoying being on the Jets saying it’s like a “dream” so far.

#3 Jessica it looks as if Nick Nurse and Doc Rivers are the top contenders for the Phoenix Suns head coaching job. Nurse has also been mentioned as a top candidate for the Milwaukee Bucks head coach vacancy. The Suns are looking to fill former head coach Monty Williams’ position after he was fired for losing to the Denver Nuggets who are in the NBA Finals.

#4 The Tampa Bay Rays entered Tuesday night’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays as the team that has given up the fewest runs in the American League that all changed when the Jays bombarded the Rays 20-1. The one laugher was when the Jays Vladimir Guerrero struck out against a position player outfielder Luke Raley who pitched in the eighth and Guerrero returned to the dugout laughing. The game was a laugher too for the Jays.

#5 The Oakland A’s and the State of Nevada have reached a loose agreement that reduces the State’s tax credit debt to less than $195 million and for Clark County to pay less than $200 million less than the $395 million needed toward building a ballpark on the Las Vegas Strip’s Tropicana property. Previously the State were going to kick in $100 to 195 million toward the tax credits. Once an agreement is in place.

Jessica does Headline Sports every other Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Nevada Governor announces agreement to bring A’s to Vegas

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Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo waves to the crowd shorty after he was inaugurated governor in Jan 2023. Lombardo announced on Wed May 24, 2023 that the State of Nevada and the Oakland A’s have reached an agreement to finance a 30,000 seat ballpark at the Tropicana Casino and Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip (Las Vegas Review Journal file photo)

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

The Las Vegas Culinary Union has assured it’s working staff if the Oakland A’s and the State of Nevada will have union protected jobs at the Tropicana Casino and Resort. The Culinary Union is the strongest union in Vegas and they are assured union paying jobs as the Tropicana plans to build another tower across the street from the ballpark. The old tower will be torn down and the newer tower will be part of the square block with the A’s who will have their ballpark on nine acres of land.

Nevada governor Joe Lombardo announced on Wednesday a tentative agreement between the A’s and the State of Nevada a bill that will go forward to the Nevada Legislature that would bring Major League Baseball to Las Vegas. “The agreement follows month of negotiations between the state, the county, and the A’s and I believe it gives us a tremendous opportunity to continue building on the professional sports infrastructure of Southern Nevada.” said Lombardo.

The agreement will be drafted into legislation and later will be introduced to the Nevada State Legislature that will allow the public and lawmakers to debate over the project. Las Vegas A’s team president David Kaval said “We’re very appreciative of the support from the State of Nevada and Clark County leadership. We want to thank Governor Lombardo the Legislative leadership, the treasurer, and Clark County Commissioners and staff on the collaborative process. We look forward to advancing this legislation in a responsible way.”

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

M’s send A’s down to sixth loss in a row Seattle wins 3-2

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BY Jerry Feitelberg

There was good and bad news for the Oakland A’s in Tuesday night’s game against the Seattle Mariners. The good news was that the A’s played better than Monday night. The bad news was they still lost.

The Mariners ruined a good start by the A’s starter, Luis Medina. The 24-year-old Dominican Republic Medina pitched well for four and 2/3rd innings. Luis allowed a single in the first inning and held the M’s hitless until there were two out in the fifth.

Another bit of good news was the two runs the A’s scored in the first inning. The bad news was they managed just two hits over the next eight innings. Seattle’s three runs in the fifth were enough to give them a 3-2 win over the A’s. The loss marks the worse MLB start since the 1932 Boston Red Sox.

The A’s put two runs on the board in the top of the first. Esteury Ruiz got the rally going with a single to left. The hit extended Ruiz’s hitting streak to eight games. Ruiz stole second to get into scoring position. For Ruiz, it was his Major League-leading 25th steal.

Ramon Laureano singled to shallow right. Ruiz scored, and Laureano went to second on the throw home. Jesus Aguilar grounded out 5-3, and Laureano went to third on the play. Catcher Carlos Perez singled to drive in Ramon with the A’s second run. The Mariners did not score in their half of the first. The A’s lead 2-0

The Mariners scored three times in the fifth. Luis Medina had not allowed a hit since the first inning. Medina retired the first two Mariner hitters in the fifth. With two out, catcher Tom Murphy doubled. The next hitter, left-handed hitter J.P. Crawford, took Medina deep.

Crawford’s home run was his second of the year. The ball went out of the park in right-center field. Medina now had to face Ty France. Median retired France the first two times he faced him. Not this time, as France homered to left-center field to give the Mariners a 3-2 advantage after five.

The Mariners’ starter Marco Gonzales settled down and allowed the A’s two hits before he left the game after the sixth inning. The Mariners’ outstanding bullpen set the A’s down in order in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings to secure the win.

Game Notes- with the loss, the A’s have lost six in a row and nine of the last ten played. The A’s are 10-40 for 2023. The Mariners evened their record at 24-24.

The line score for Oakland was two runs, five hits, and one error. The Line for Seattle was three runs, five hits, and no errors. Home runs by J.P. Crawford and Ty France were the big hits in the game.

Luis Medina was the losing pitcher. His record in 0-3. Marco Gonzales was the winning pitcher.
The A’s sent lefty Kyle Muller to Triple-A. Muller was the losing pitcher Monday night. Oakland activated pitcher Trevor May from the 10-day IL. May saw action in the eighth inning, and what an inning it was.

May hit Ty France on the wrist with a wayward fastball. May was barely moving due to the pain. He did get up and made his way to first base. Sam Haggerty replaced him. The next hitter Julio Rodriguez hit a ball down the right-field line.

As Ramon Laureano went to catch the ball in foul territory, it appeared a fan interfered with it. The first base umpire ruled the batter out. The M’s challenged the call, but the review upheld the call. May retired Jarred Kelenic for the second out.

He then hit Eugenio Suarez with a pitch. The Seattle fans were enraged at the events. May stayed in the game to get the third out.

There was more bad news for the Oakland fans. The Nevada Independent reports that the A’s and major Nevada state officials have reached a loose agreement for a public financing package including $180 million in transferable tax credits and $120 million in bonds issued by Clark County.

The A’s still have two games left to play with Seattle before returning home to face the Houston Astros Friday night. It will be a battle of left-handed pitchers. Ken Waldichuk (1-3 ERA 6.85) will pitch for Oakland, and Bryce Miller (2-1 ERA 1.42) will be on the hill for the Mariners. The game will start at 6:40 pm.

Oakland A’s commentary with Stephen Ruderman: Vegas residents express skepticism over $395 million tax credits for ballpark

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Oakland A’s fan at the Oakland Coliseum on Fri Apr 28, 2023 thumbs down the idea of the A’s moving to Las Vegas (Las Vegas Review Journal file photo)

On the Oakland A’s Commentary with Steve:

On the Oakland A’s podcast:

#1 How practical is it for the Nevada tax payers to front the A’s some $200 million to 75 million to cover the existing gap to cover the $395 million to pay towards the $1.5 billion A’s new ballpark at the Tropicana site in Las Vegas. Some people interviewed in Las Vegas are against paying for a ball club that’s deliberately not trying to win and bringing them to Vegas.

#2 The A’s currently have a $59 million payroll while most of the other MLB clubs have a $100 million which keeps most of them somewhat competitive. If the A’s are in Vegas and fans are only showing up to see Shohei Ohtani or Aaron Judge will the A’s be able to sustain business as usual?

#3 The A’s manager Mark Kotsay said that losing is 100% his responsibility. That Kotsay beats himself up everyday about it and he doesn’t know how to hide it. It’s a constant struggle. It’s not going to change much at this point because A’s Money Ball genius Billy Beane and general manager David Forst are not going on the free agency market anytime soon.

#4 The A’s as it turned out could have pushed during their times of trying to move to San Jose that the San Francisco Giants no longer had territorial rights because those territorial rights that the A’s gave them so they could have moved to San Jose were used so they could try and build a stadium in the South Bay and once they had built their own stadium in the City they should no longer have those territorial rights anymore and the A’s should have had a chance at trying to get a ballpark in San Jose which they are being blocked by the Giants.

#5 Taxpayers in Las Vegas are skeptical about spending the $395 million of public money for the stadium tax credits towards the Tropicana Ballpark when they see how A’s owner John Fisher is not putting any money into trying to be competitive. Most likely Fisher and the A’s will be competitive after they get the new ballpark at Tropicana but on the face of it the taxpayers in Vegas are wondering if the A’s come will they continue compete with a low payroll.

#6 Do you see any outside chance that the A’s Tropicana deal could fail and Fisher would go back to Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and try to iron out a deal at Howard Terminal?

#7 The NBC Bay Area Sports fired TV broadcaster Glen Kuiper for using the N word on a pre game broadcast during a series in Kansas City. Kuiper joined the A’s broadcast team in the early 90s. Some critics say you don’t use that word unless you use that word.

Stephen Ruderman covers the Sacramento Rivercats and MLB for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Any outside chance that Las Vegas deal would fail for A’s?

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Oakland A’s manager Mark Kotsay looks out of the A’s dugout at the Oakland Coliseum the A’s who are in Seattle dropped the first game of a four game series on Mon May 22, 2023. Kotsay he beats himself up everyday about the struggles of the A’s. (San Francisco Chronicle file photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast:

#1 How practical is it for the Nevada tax payers to front the A’s some $200 million to 75 million to cover the existing gap to cover the $395 million to pay towards the $1.5 billion A’s new ballpark at the Tropicana site in Las Vegas. Some people interviewed in Las Vegas are against paying for a ball club that’s deliberately not trying to win and bringing them to Vegas.

#2 The A’s currently have a $59 million payroll while most of the other MLB clubs have a $100 million which keeps most of them somewhat competitive. If the A’s are in Vegas and fans are only showing up to see Shohei Ohtani or Aaron Judge will the A’s be able to sustain business as usual?

#3 The A’s manager Mark Kotsay said that losing is 100% his responsibility. That Kotsay beats himself up everyday about it and he doesn’t know how to hide it. It’s a constant struggle. It’s not going to change much at this point because A’s Money Ball genius Billy Beane and general manager David Forst are not going on the free agency market anytime soon.

#4 The A’s as it turned out could have pushed during their times of trying to move to San Jose that the San Francisco Giants no longer had territorial rights because those territorial rights that the A’s gave them so they could have moved to San Jose were used so they could try and build a stadium in the South Bay and once they had built their own stadium in the City they should no longer have those territorial rights anymore and the A’s should have had a chance at trying to get a ballpark in San Jose which they are being blocked by the Giants.

#5 Taxpayers in Las Vegas are skeptical about spending the $395 million of public money for the stadium tax credits towards the Tropicana Ballpark when they see how A’s owner John Fisher is not putting any money into trying to be competitive. Most likely Fisher and the A’s will be competitive after they get the new ballpark at Tropicana but on the face of it the taxpayers in Vegas are wondering if the A’s come will they continue compete with a low payroll.

#6 Do you see any outside chance that the A’s Tropicana deal could fail and Fisher would go back to Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and try to iron out a deal at Howard Terminal?

#7 The NBC Bay Area Sports fired TV broadcaster Glen Kuiper for using the N word on a pre game broadcast during a series in Kansas City. Kuiper joined the A’s broadcast team in the early 90s. Some critics say you don’t use that word unless you use that word.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is taking this week off and Jerry Feitelberg is filling in for That’s Amaury News and Commentary heard Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Mariners trounce A’s 11-2; Fifth loss in a row for Oakland

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Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Kyle Muller reacts after walking Seattle Mariners’ AJ Pollock during the second inning at T Mobile Park in Seattle on Mon May 22, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Seattle Mariners welcomed the A’s to T-Mobile Park Monday night. The Mariners sent righty Luis Castillo to the hill to face the A’s. Oakland countered with lefty Kyle Muller. The A’s were hoping to snap a four-game losing streak. The Mariners wanted the win to get to just one game below the .500 mark. The Mariners got their wish by punishing the A’s 11-2. The game summary follows below.

The Mariners put the A’s into a 5-0 deficit after the game’s first two innings. In the first inning, with two out and a man on first, Jarred Kelenic blasted his tenth dinger of the year to give the M’s an early 2-0 lead. The M’s added three more in their half of the second. M’s catcher Cal Raleigh singled to get things going for Seattle. A’s starter Kyle Muller issued A.J.Pollock a walk to put two men on with one out. The Mariners’ second baseman Jose Caballero sent his second dinger of the year over the wall in center field. The Mariners lead 5-0.

The Mariners added another run in the bottom of the fifth. Kyle Muller kept the M’s off the board in the third and fourth innings. He appeared to be in a groove. The A’s were hoping Muller could give them six innings. The M’s, however, had other thoughts. Julio Rodriguez, leading off in the fifth, doubled. The next hitter Jarred Kelenic singled to drive in Rodriguez with Seattle’s sixth run of the night. It was Kelenic’s third RBI of the night to put the M’s ahead 6-0.

The A’s mounted a threat in the top of the sixth. The M’s starter Luis Castillo held the A’s to just two hits in the first five innings. In the sixth, the A’s loaded the bases with two outs. Singles by Ryan Noda and Seth Brown put men on at first and third with two out. Castillo walked JJ Bleday to load the bases. Castillo retired Jace Peterson for the third out.

The Mariners continued to torment the A’s pitching staff. Seattle plated two more runs in the bottom of the sixth. Adrian Martinez was pitching for the A’s. Martinez walked A.J. Pollock to start the M’s rally. Martinez retired the next two hitters. Ty France singled, followed by Julio Rodriguez’s second double of the game. Kelenic walked to load the bases. Eugenio Suarez singled to drive in Ty France with M’s eighth run.

The A’s made it 8-2 in the top of the eighth. They put together a single walk, a wild pitch to advance the runners and two ground outs to put the runs on the board.

The Mariners answered with three more runs in the bottom of the eighth to put the game out of reach. Shintaro Fujinami, after retiring the M’s in order in the seventh, lost command of the strike zone.

He walked a batter, hit another with a pitch, and a single by Kelenic drove in the M’s ninth run. Suarez singled to drive in Rodriguez with the tenth run. Kelenic went to third on the play and scored on an infield out. 11-2 M’s after eight. M’s reliever Chris Flexen set the A’s down in order in the ninth to secure the win.

Game Notes- With the loss, the A’s are 10-39. The Mariners improved to 23-24.Kyle Muller was the losing pitcher. He is now 1-4, and his ERA is a horrendous 8.04. The winning pitcher was Luis Castillo. Castillo won his third game of the year. When Castillo struck out Shea Langeliers in the fifth inning, the crowd gave Castillo a standing ovation as he notched his 1000th career strikeout.

The A’s line was two runs, five hits, and no errors. Seth Brown, just of the IL, had two hits. Esteury Ruiz’s single in the eighth extended his hitting streak to seven games.
The line score for Seattle was 11 runs, 13 hits, and no errors. Eugenio Suarez, Jarred Kelenic, and Jose Caballero each had three RBIs. Kelenic and Caballero homered for Seattle.

On Tuesday, Luis Medina (0-2, 6.88 ERA) goes for Oakland. Lefty Marco Gonzales (3-1,6-10 ERA) will be on the hill for the M’s. The game will start at 6:40 pm.

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: A’s open up series with Mariners tonight after getting swept in Houston

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Oakland Athletics’ Esteury Ruiz (1) reacts after initially being called out by second base umpire Brennan Miller, left, during the sixth inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid in Houston on Sun May 21, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason:

#1 Sunday afternoon the Oakland Athletics (10-38) played game three of their series with the Houston Astros (27-19) and couldn’t avoid getting swept by the Astros at Minute Maid Park 2-0.

#2 Saturday’s game was not decided until the eighth inning. Oakland played a very competitive game but just didn’t have enough to get past Houston in the Saturday contest and couldn’t get a run on Sunday getting shutout.

#3 There were some really encouraging moments in the Saturday game that started with pitcher JP Sears who was outstanding after digging out of a deep hole in the first inning. Another highlight were the two stolen bases from Esteury Ruiz who has been a standout this season. 

#4 Sam Moll had relieved James Kaprielian in the sixth inning. Jordan Alvarez did score on a wild pitch from Moll and Houston had taken a 2-0 lead.

#5 The A’s open a four game series with the Seattle Mariners on Monday night at T Mobile Park in Seattle starting pitchers Kyle Muller will take the mound for Oakland with an 1-3 record 7.71 ERA. Luis Castillo will be on the hill for Seattle with a 2-2 record and a 3.31 ERA. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 PM.

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

Headline Sports podcast with Bruce Magowan: Bruce talks Vida Blue memories, Giants, A’s and Warriors updates

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Former San Francisco pitcher Vida Blue is one of the subjects of Bruce Magowan’s podcast heard on http://www.sportsradioservice.com (photo from TV 45 Baltimore)

On the Headline Sports podcast with Bruce Magowan:

#1 Bruce, got to catch up with us and talk about his memories on covering former Oakland A’s and San Francisco Giant pitcher Vida Blue and his days of working with Vida on local radio.

#2 The Giants needing a star powered player as Giants after failing to sign big star names such as Carlos Correa, Carlos Rodon, and Aaron Judge for various reasons the Giants will remain a .500 team this season.

#3 The Oakland A’s changing locations for building their new ballpark and how they will get their ballpark financed in Las Vegas has been like Groundhog Day.

#4 Bruce, also takes a look at the futures of the Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers and Warriors guard Draymond Green and will they return next season?

Bruce Magowan does Headline Sports Commentary during most San Francisco Giants Sunday home games during the 2023 MLB season at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland Swept By Astros Losing Game Three 2-0; Astros Valdez throws 4 hit gem

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In this slowed down shutter speed photo Houston Astros pitcher Framber Valdez looks like he’s inside a Kellogg’s 3-D baseball card throws against the Oakland A’s at Minute Field in Houston on Sun May 21, 2023 (AP News photo)

Oakland Swept By Astros Losing Game Three 2-0

By Barbara Mason

Sunday afternoon the Oakland Athletics (10-38) played game three of their series with the Houston Astros (27-19) and couldn’t avoid getting swept by the Astros at Minute Maid Park 2-0. Saturday’s game was not decided until the eighth inning. Oakland played a very competitive game but just didn’t have enough to get past Houston in the Saturday contest and couldn’t get a run on Sunday getting shutout.

There were some really encouraging moments in the Saturday game that started with pitcher JP Sears who was outstanding after digging out of a deep hole in the first inning. Another highlight were the two stolen bases from Esteury Ruiz who has been a standout this season. With the losses mounting, special moments like these need to be recognized and appreciated.

Sunday’s post game wrap: Sunday the A’s were looking to win at least one game and avoid the sweep.

The first four innings were a pitchers duel and the A’s had the only hit. James Kaprielian went five innings and finished with five strikeouts, three hits and one run. After holding the Astros for four innings Jose Altuve singled in the fifth inning and Jake Meyers scored the Astros first run of the game 1-0.

The bottom of the sixth inning was a busy one for the Astros. A couple of walks and a Yordan Alvarez double and the Astros were threatening. Sam Moll had relieved Kaprielian in the inning. Alvarez did score on a wild pitch from Moll and Houston had taken a 2-0 lead.

The Astros agains threatened in the seventh inning. They had the bases loaded but the A’s kept the Astros off the scoreboard getting out of the inning.

Oakland had been able to hold off the Astros numerous times but were unable to generate any offense of their own. They had one last chance heading into the ninth inning with the Astros leading 2-0. Nick Allen had a hit in the inning but that was about it for the A’s. Houston had won their seventh game in a row and had their second sweep in a row. The Astros are the hottest team in baseball right now and certainly had proven it.

It was a tough loss for Oakland. They did a lot of things right today but didn’t have the offense to get on the scoreboard. The A’s did get to see another Ruiz steal which has become routine for this guy.

The Athletics will travel up to Seattle and T Mobile Park to take on the Mariners Monday night in a four game series. Kyle Muller will take the mound for Oakland with an 1-3 record 7.71 ERA. Luis Castillo will be on the hill for Seattle with a 2-2 record and a 3.31 ERA. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 PM.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: It comes down to $75 million?

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Tropicana Hotel and Casino front entrance in Las Vegas future home of the Oakland A’s in 2027 (file photo from booking.com)

It comes down to $75 million?

That’s Amaury New and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

1-Athletics picked Wild Wild West land-site for their new stadium. The ask for public funds was $500 million

2-Days later they changed site-location and dealt with the Tropicana. Then they asked for $395 million in public funds.

3-The State of Nevada offered the A’s $320 million toward reducing the asking price of $395 million. They need $75 million to “play ball”.

4-Today (May 20) they are negotiating the gap of $75 million, which is the missing piece for the A’s to complete their $1.5 billion, 30,000 seat park.

5 – June 5 all funding must be complete and be presented to the Nevada Legislature. If the deadline is missed, the governor will get involved.

6 -Bally’s Corp, told the local Las Vegas media (reported by the Las Vegas Business Journal) last week that they hoped providing the Athletics with free land would push lawmakers to continue the momentum toward landing the team in Southern Nevada and Major League Baseball approving their relocation from Oakland.

Place your bets ladies and gentlemen.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez has been covering the Oakland A’s move to the Las Vegas Tropicana Hotel and Casino ballpark development story and does News and Commentary podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com