Tag: Oakland Athletics

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

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).

A’s win last game in Oakland history edge Rangers 3-2 at Coliseum

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Oakland A’s shortstop Jacob Wilson (5) forces out Texas Rangers baserunner Jonathan Ornelas (right) in the top of the third inning for a double play at the Oakland Coliseum on Thu Sep 26, 2024 (photo by Mauricio Segura Golden Bay Times)

Texas(75-84). 000 002 000. 2. 5. 1

Athletics (70-90). 002 010 00x. 3. 9 0

Time: 2:29

Attendance: 46,889

Thu Sep 26, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–A Day Which Will Live in Infamy

This is the way the world ends This is the way the world ends Not with a bang but a whimper.” ― T.S. Eliot, “The Hollow Men”

Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

— Dylan Thomas, “Do not go gentle into that good night”

Nothing in life became him like the leaving it. —William Shakeskpeare, Macbeth

Pick your choice of which quotation best describes the Athletics’ long farewell to Oakland and the Coliseum that the people who took them away from us put on Thursday afternoon. From Rickey Henderson and Dave Stewart throwing in tandem the ceremonial first pitches and Barry Zito singing the national anthem to the last out of the 3-2 A’s win their last ever on their home field.

The “LET’S GO OAKLAND” chants yielded to “SELL THE TEAM” in the top of the fifth, showing that even new habits die hard. Meanwhile, an interesting ball game was taking place. In a battle of rookie righties, the A’s sent JT Ginn, who was 0-1, 4.40 between his August 20 call up from Las Vegas and 12:37 Thursday afternoon He earned the win, going 5-1/3 innings and allowing both of the Rangers’ runs, which were earned.

They came in the sixth inning on a walk to Josh Smith, a single to left by Wyatt Langford, a single to right by Adolis García that scored Smith, and Nathaniel Lowe’s force out of García that first base umpire Jordan Baker had called an inning ending double play.

That ruling was appealed but quite rightly confirmed, allowing Langford to score. In all, Ginn lasted 5-1/3 innings and allowed two hits and two walks while striking out four Rangers. He threw 68 pitches, 43 of which counted as strikes, even his record to 1-1, and reduced his ERA to 4.24.

TJ McFarland, Tyler Ferguson, Michel Otáñez, and Mason Miller, who earned his 28th save, held the visitors hitless and scoreless the rest of the way. Miller, who got four outs, had his ninth inning interrupted by a streaker whose ejection was greeted with spontaneous calls to sell the team, accompanied by scoreboard exhortations of “Let’s Go Oakland,” on the scoreboard and loud speakers. A few stink bombs also found their way onto the outfield after that.

For their part, the Rangers gave the nod to Kumar Rocker, their third overall pick in the 2022 draft and one time first round unsigned choice of the Mets and (I believe) the first major league of Indian descent . The Rangers didn’t give him much support, offensive or defensively.

The A’s scored off him in the third on Jacob Wilson weak ground ball single to third, Brent Rooker’s single to center, and Shea Langlier’s sacrifice fly to left. They picked up their third and final run in the fifth when Wilson led off with a single to left and advanced to second when Langford mishandled the ball, allowing JJ Bleday to drive him in with a two out single to center.

So Rocker’s numbers don’t reflect the quality of his outing Texas, but here they are: Three runs, all earned, on seven hits in 4-2/3 innings. He faced 21 Athletics and struck out a pair of them without walking any. 50 of his 73 offerings went into the book as strikes. The loss left him at 0-2, 3..8. Jack Leiter kept the game a tight one, allowing only two hits and three walks in the remaining 3-1/3 innings.

I usually end my dispatches by listing the next home game’s probable pitchers. There’ll be no more of that for the Coliseum,

RIP.

Oakland A’s podcast with John Shea (San Francisco Chronicle): Final Thoughts on A’s Final Season

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Oakland A’s groundskeeper Jack Tanner fills up cups of dirt from the playing surface to give to A’s fans at the Oakland Coliseum on the last day of MLB baseball in Oakland history ( AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with John Shea:

Coming down to the last few weeks and days has probably been the most taxing of any season that I’ve ever covered. I’ve covered seasons since the early to mid 80s. On both sides of the bay there are all sorts of stuff happening, news developing.

Tears shed especially it’s kind of powerful, sad, and it’s really all unnecessary. I really thought it wouldn’t happen but the baseball owners and the commissioner would come to their senses collectively and realize that Sacramento is bogus and going to Las Vegas is silly.

You have the largest TV markets here in the Bay Area and your just handing it over to the San Francisco Giants to have a one team market of this size west of the Mississippi and their just going to dominate the revenue stream while three teams are in Southern California it makes zero sense and I hope the team stays forever in Sacramento.

John Shea is a baseball writer for the San Francisco Chronicle in the Sporting Green

Oakland A’s podcast with Michael Wagaman: Final Thoughts on A’s final season in Oakland

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Fans attend the final Oakland A’s game Thu Sep 26, 2024 as the team plans to relocate to Sacramento for the 2025 season (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Michael Wagaman:

It’s a very sad day here at the Oakland Coliseum especially for the fans. For me I spent a large chunk of my youth coming here when I moved away to the Central Valley friends convinced me to come to a game and I saw Nolan Ryan throw a no hitter here at the Coliseum.

Rickey Henderson became the all time stolen base leader and there were so many moments. Here’s a fan and again as a sports writer. This place is beautiful and one known fact and this is almost universal for the last 20-30 years.

It is widely recognized around Major League Baseball that the Oakland Coliseum has the reputation of playing the best game day music in the country and that’s legendary from both sides. I’ve spoken to Dusty Baker he loves the vibes.

Michael Wagaman is a AP reporter and is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jason Burke (Sports Illustrated): Final thoughts on last A’s season in Oakland

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Oakland A’s players, coaches and manager Mark Kotsay bid goodbye to A’s fans after the conclusion of the last A’s game in Oakland history on Thu Sep 26, 2024 (photo by Jason Burke X account)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jason Burke:

I have been pushing down all the feelings all season long in the last couple of days it’s been it’s really starting to hit I’ve already cried three times today. It’s just coming here with the family coming here with grandpa, dad, my wife, there is just so much family history let alone Oakland A’s history.

I’ll have those stories to tell it means a lot this stupid building means so much. It’s going to be rough saying goodbye after the final. This A’s team is going to be good pretty soon and there’s lots of guys on this team like Lawrence Butler, Joey Estes, who are starting to reach their peak a little more and those are guys this city will absolutely love.

Jason Burke was a Locked on A’s host and is a writer for Sports Illustrated

Oakland A’s podcast with Derrick Nesbitt: Thoughts of the last A’s final home game

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Oakland Coliseum as seen on Wed Sep 25, 2024 between the Texas Rangers and Oakland A’s the second to the last night before the A’s move to Sacramento for Sutter Health Field

Oakland A’s podcast with Derrick Nesbitt:

I live in Oakland and I’m one of those people when you drive from the Oakland Airport from the Oakland Hills you always look at this stadium and think about and the numbers you have and it’s not going to be here. I’m a taxpayer here in Oakland and this doesn’t help.

I got into a little bit of trouble saying what I said (on our TV broadcast on Wednesday night) it’s the truth I believe if I’m the person in charge and I have the ability this effects other people’s lives and I want to look my kids in the eyes and say I did the right thing.

I don’t the A’s owner did the right thing to the fans or the City of Oakland it just isn’t right.

Derrick Nesbitt is the Sports Director for KBLC TV Oakland