Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O: A’s drop 4.5 games back in wild card; 3.5 back in AL West after loss to Yankees

Photo credit: @athletics_fanly

On the A’s podcast with Charlie O:

The Oakland A’s are closing in on everybody. They’re 4 1/2 games back of the New York Yankees in the AL Wild Card race. The A’s are 3 1/2 games back and wouldn’t they love to win the division? The A’s are certainly getting a good mix of pitching from the starters and relievers.

The A’s will be introducing all their living Hall of Fame inductees: Rollie Fingers, Reggie Jackson, Rickey Henderson, Dennis Eckersley, and Helen Hunter (Jim Catfish Hunter’s widow) will be on hand on Wednesday night at the Oakland Coliseum for the tribute.

Charlie O does the A’s podcast each Tuesday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s down the Yankees 6-3 before a huge Labor Day crowd

by Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND– It was a beautiful sun-drenched afternoon at the Oakland Coliseum as the Oakland A’s played host to the New York Yankees. The two teams were playing in front of 40,546 fans, and they treated them to quite an afternoon of baseball. The A’s, the hottest team in baseball since June 16th and owners of the fourth-best record in baseball had to deal with the Yankees who own the second-best record. Yankee slugger Aaron Judge, who had not played since July 26th when he suffered a broken wrist, took his first swings off a tee on Monday and should be back soon. Yankee shortstop, Didi Gregorius, who is also on the DL, may be back in the lineup later this week. These two players make the Yankees, as a team, a lot more dangerous. The Yankees, even without them, are loaded with players that have a lot of power. The A’s were the better team on Labor Day as they beat the Yankees 6-3 and moved to within 3 1/2 games of the lead for the first Wild Card spot in the AL. The A’s remain 2 1/2 games behind the Houston Astros for first place in the AL West.

Monday’s pitching matchup featured the A’s big righty, Trevor Cahill, going up the even bigger lefty CC Sabathia. Cahill, who had never beaten the Yankees in his career and who pitches much better in Oakland than on the road, gave the A’s five innings of work. He allowed four hits and three runs. One of the runs was unearned. Sabathia who was 11-11 in his career against Oakland did not have it Monday afternoon. Sabathia’s day ended in the fourth inning. His pitching line was 3 and 1/3rd inning, and he allowed seven hits, five runs, four of which were earned. Sabathia took the loss and is now 7-6 for the year.

The Yankees put an unearned run on the board in the top of the first. Andrew McCutchen, who arrived in New York via a trade with the San Francisco Giants led off with a single. McCutchen stole second, and when Jonathan’s Lucroy’s throw sailed into centerfield, McCutchen advanced to third. Cahill retired Giancarlo Stanton on a popup to second baseman Jed Lowrie. McCutchen scored on Aaron Hick’s sacrifice fly. Cahill struck out Miguel Andu]jar to end the inning.  The Yanks lead 1-0 in the middle of the first. The lead didn’t last long as the A’s plated three runs. After Sabathia retired Marcus Semien for the first out, the A’s put together four straight singles and a throwing error by Yankee third baseman Miguel Andujar to end the first with the lead 3-1. Two of the A’s runs were earned, and the other was unearned.

The Yankees tied the game in the top of the second. Yankees’ catcher Gary Sanchez started the inning with a walk. With one out, rookie first baseman Luke Voit blasted his sixth of the year. The A’s undid the tie in their half of the second. Sabathia walked Marcus Semien who was leading off for Oakland. A’s third baseman Matt Chapman doubled to drive in Semien with the A’s fourth run of the game. Chapman was out at third as he tried to stretch the double into a triple.

The A’s tallied their fifth run of the day in the bottom of the fourth.  Semien led off the inning with a double. With one out, Jed Lowrie singled to drive in Semien. For Lowrie, it was his 86th ribbie of the season. The A’s lead 5-3 after four.

The A’s center fielder Mark Canha tacked on another run for Oakland when he blasted a towering fly into the left-field seats for his sixteenth big fly of the year to give the A’s a 3-run cushion  6-3 after five innings of play.

The A’s bullpen of Lou Trivino, Yusmeiro Petit, Ryan Buchter, Jeurys Familia, and Blake Treinen did not allow the Yankees a hit after the fifth inning. It did get a little dicey in the seventh when Gary Sanchez reached first after striking out. Jonathan Lucroy allowed Petit’s pitch to get by him. The ball went to the backstop, and by the time Lucroy fielded the ball, Sanchez was on first safely. Petit then walked Glyber Torres to put men on at first and second with no out. Petit reached back and struck out Voit and pinch-hitter Neil Walker. Brett Gardner flew out to left for the final out of the seventh. Jeurys Familia pitched the eighth inning, and he retired the first two Yankees he faced. It started to go downhill as he suddenly couldn’t find the strike zone. He walked Aaron Hicks and Miguel Andujar to give the Yankees a glimmer of hope. The next hitter was former NL MVP, Andrew McCutchen. McCutchen, who singled in the first, hit a sharp ground ball to Marcus Semien. Semien’s throw to first was on target, and the side was retired. Blake Treinen worked the ninth, and he retired the Yanks in order to earn his 36th save of the season.

Game Notes- The A’s, with the win, improved to 83-56 and are now 3 1/2 games behind the Yanks in the race for the top Wild Card spot. If the playoffs were to begin now, the A’s would have to travel to New York for the one-game playoff. If the A’s finish first, the playoff would be played in Oakland. The A’s remain 2 1/2 games behind the Astros for the best record in the AL West. The A’s and Astros have finished the season’s series.

Trevor Cahill received credit for the win and is now 6-3 for the season. Cahill is 5-0 and has an ERA of 1.09 in nine starts at the Coliseum He beat the Yankees for the first time in his career.

Mark Canha matched a career-high with his 16th homer of the season in the bottom of the fifth inning… Canha leads the American League with 13 home runs vs. lefties.  Matt Chapman recorded his 34th double of the season… leads the Majors with 32 extra-base hits since the AllStar Break. Stephen Piscotty added two hits to extend his hitting streak to six games, he is batting .391 (9-for-23) over that span.  Blake Treinen earned his 36th save of the season, which ranks fourth in the majors and tied for ninth in Oakland history…he now has a 0.91 ERA, which is the lowest among Major League relievers. Khris Davis is 2nd in the Majors with 105 RBI this season (J.D. Martinez, 115)… Davis had a career-best 110 RBI last season.

The Oakland A’s have acquired right-handed pitcher Aaron Brooks from the Milwaukee Brewers for cash considerations, the club announced today.  To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, the A’s designated left-handed pitcher Danny Coulombe for assignment.

Game two of the three-game series will be played Tuesday night at the Oakland Coliseum. The A’s have not announced a starter, and it may be bullpen by committee once again with Liam Hendriks pitching the first inning and Daniel Mengden coming in to pitch in either the second or third innings. Lefty J.A. Happ will go for New York. Game time is at 7:05 pm.

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Khris “Krush” Davis joins Jimmie Foxx in three straight years of hitting 40 home runs or more

photo from athleticsnation.com file: Oakland A’s slugger Khris Davis (2) joins former A’s slugger Jimmie Foxx for hitting at least 40 or more home runs per season for three consecutive years

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND — On Saturday September 1, 2018, Oakland Athletics’ designated hitter Khris Davis hit his 40th home run at the Oakland Coliseum against Seattle reliever Alex Colomé. Davis joined Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx (1932-34) of the Philadelphia Athletics as the only two players in three consecutive years to have 40 home run seasons in the A’s franchise. Khris Davis came to the A’s in 2016–that season he ended with 42 home runs and 102 runs batted in, 2017–43 home runs and 110 runs batted in, and as of the conclusion of Sept. 1–40 home runs and 105 runs batted in. Originally a left fielder, he is the A’s everyday DH. A quiet player that goes on with his business. Davis is a 30-year-old, Lakewood, Calif. native. His mother was born in Guadalajara, México. He has played on a “year to year” contract since he arrived with the A’s, making $10.5 million this season.

Here is the all-time list of players who have accomplished this feat: Babe Ruth, NYY 1926-32, Alex Rodriguez, 1998-2003, Sammy Sosa (1998-2003), Ken Griffey Jr. (1996-2000), Ralph Kiner (1947-1951), Ryan Howard (2006-09), Albert Pujols (2003-06), Jim Thome (2001-04), Mark McGwire (1996-99), Ernie Banks (1957-1960), Duke Snider (1953-56), David Ortiz (2004-06), Barry Bonds (2000-02), Vinny Castilla (1996-98), Andres Galarraga (1996-98), Juan Gonzalez (1996-98), Jay Buhner (1995-97), Frank Howard (1968-1970), Ted Kluszewski (1953-55), Eddie Mathews (1953-55), and of course, Jimmie Foxx (1932-34).

Listen to the A’s games on KIQI 1010AM/990AM in San Francisco, Oakland, San José, Sacramento, Stockton and the Valley. Also, on the SAP line on A’s television.

Oakland Raiders report: Raiders trade Mack to Bears

photo from bearswire.com: Former Oakland Raider Khalil Mack (52) has been dealt to the Chicago Bears as of Saturday morning. Mack came to the Raiders out of the NFL draft in 2014.

By Jeremy Kahn

If you thought that LeBron James going to the Los Angeles Lakers, DeMarcus Cousins going to the Golden State Warriors, or Kwahi Leonard going to the Toronto Raptors was big for the NBA, what would the impact of Khalil Mack going to the Chicago Bears do for the NFL.

According to multiple reports, the Oakland Raiders will trade the 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year to the Bears.

Mack missed all of training camp, he also did not appear at the Raiders voluntary off season program and missed the mandatory three-day minicamp in June. Also, since he was hired as the Raiders head coach on January 8, Jon Gruden and Mack have yet to speak to one another.

During the summer of 2017, the Raiders exercised the fifth-year option on Mack’s contract that is $13.846 million. If Mack was to play for the Raiders in 2018, the Raiders could put the franchise tag on the linebacker out of the University of Buffalo, barring an impasse.

In 2015, Mack became the first player in NFL history to be named All-Pro as an Outside Linebacker and a Defensive End. Mack was named the 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and last year, Mack finished with 10.5 sacks, his fewest since his rookie year.

Oh yeah, and the Bears come to the Bay Area to face the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on December 23.

Oakland A’s podcast with Joey Friedman: After dropping three of their last four, A’s looking to regroup against Mariners tonight

Photo credit: @Athletics

On the A’s podcast with Joey:

The A’s have lost three of their last four games. They played a challenging Houston team with a couple of one run games in the series and dropped the opening game of the current four-game series to the Seattle Mariners 7-1. A’s starter Frankie Montas got shelled on Thursday, surrendering five runs in the first inning. Montas left pitching six innnings, seven runs and eight hits.

The Mariners’ starter Wade LeBlanc pitched seven innings, holding the A’s to one run and three hits. The A’s were never a threat. The A’s only run accounted for a Jed Lowrie single in the eighth that scored Marcus Semien from second to break up LeBlanc’s shutout.

The Mike and Mike show: The A’s try it again tonight at the Oakland Coliseum. For Seattle, Mike Leake (8-8 ERA 4.03), and for Oakland, Mike Fiers (10-6 ERA 3.15) a 7:15 pm PDT first pitch.

Joey Friedman does the A’s podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Mariners embarrass the A’s in a 7-1 laugher

Photo credit: @Mariners

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — A’s starter Frankie Montas took one for his team Thursday night as he was roughed up for five runs in the first inning. A’s manager Bob Melvin decided to leave Montas in the game. Montas responded by allowing just two more runs and four hits in his next five innings of work. His line for the night was six innings of work, and he allowed seven runs and eight hits.

The Mariners trounced the A’s 7-1. Reliever J.B. Wendelken, who was recalled from Nashville, pitched three scoreless innings and gave up just one hit for a very impressive performance. M’s starter Wade LeBlanc dominated the A’s for seven innings. The A’s never mounted a threat as LeBlanc scattered three hits over his seven innings of work.

Frankie Montas, who made his first start since being recalled from Nashville, did not do well in the very first inning against the M’s. The M’s put five runs on the board, two of them were unearned, as Montas had control problems. The Mariners had four hits in the inning and were helped out by a Matt Chapman throwing error. Montas didn’t help his cause as he walked right fielder Ben Gamel with the bases loaded to force in a run. Montas threw 38 pitches in the inning.

Montas settled down a bit in the top of the second. Nevertheless, the M’s tacked on their sixth run of the game in that frame. Left fielder Denard Span started the inning with a leadoff triple. M’s second baseman singled to drive in Span. Montas retired Nelson Cruz for the first out and got Kyle Seager to hit into an inning-ending double play.

Montas retired the M’s in order in the third inning. Melvin was hoping the A’s offense will get going and that Montas can give him at least five innings of work, but that wasn’t the case. In the top of the fourth, with one out, Mitch Haniger blasted his 23 home run of the year to give the M’s a 7-0 lead.

The A’s finally put one on the scoreboard in the bottom of the eighth. With one out, Marcus Semien walked. He went to second on a wild pitch and scored on Jed Lowrie’s single. The A’s trailed 7-1 after eight.

The A’s went down in order in the ninth, and the M’s took the first game of the four-game series 7-1.

Game Notes: With the loss, the A’s fall to 80-55. The M’s improved to 75-59 and now trail the A’s by 4 1/2 games for the second Wild Card spot. The A’s remain 2 1/2 games behind the Houston Astros as the Astros lost to the LA Angels Thursday night.

Time of game was two hours and 40 minutes and a very small crowd of 10,844 watched as the A’s were subdued by Seattle.

Up Next: Game two of the four-game series will feature the A’s Mike Fiers (10-6, 3.15 ERA) vs. the M’s Mike Leake (8-8, 4.03 ERA). Game time will be at 7:05 pm PDT Friday night.

Oakland Raiders podcast with Tony Renteria: Conflicting trade rumors on Mack, who wants up to $11 million raise; preview of tonight’s game in Seattle

Photo credit: @TurntSportsNews

On the Raiders podcast with Tony Renteria:

Conflicting trade rumors persist regarding the Oakland Raiders’ Khalil Mack. The team and Mack are far apart in negotiating Mack is getting $11 million per year. But he wants an $11 million raise to $22 million. This hold out has been been going on for months and knowing how the Raiders do business, they’re holding out too–they feel Mack is getting a fair deal. Mack, the best defensive player in the NFL, is asking for equal money that Denver Broncos’ Von Miller at $16 million is getting or as high as the $22 million figure.

Quarterback Derek Carr hasn’t seen a lot of snaps this preseason this maybe as a precaution to keep Carr for the regular season. Raiders head coach Jon Gruden is having his two backup quarterbacks getting the snaps to see how they do in the preseason games.

The Raiders’ last game against the Green Bay Packers used back up quarterbacks Connor Cook and EJ Manuel who combined for 14-of-27 for 159 yards. Will the Raiders look for a veteran backup quarterback? The last preseason game of the season on Thursday night in Seattle and Tony takes a look at what coach Gruden will be looking for.

Tony does the Raiders podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Astros avoid losing series to A’s; Cahill gets lit up for four runs in start

Photo credit: astros.mlblogs.com

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry:

#1 The Houston Astros avoided dropping the three-game series to the visiting Oakland A’s on Wednesday at Minute Maid Field with one-run 5-4 win.

#2 The game changed hands until the Astros’ Tyler White hit a home run into the left field seats off A’s reliever Jeurys Familia for a walk-off win in the bottom of the ninth.

#3 A’s pitcher Trevor Cahill continues to struggle on the road. Cahill went 3.1 innings, five hits, four runs and three unearned runs. Cahill’s record drops to 1-3 with a 6.92 ERA.

#4 The Astros would not be denied scoring twice in the first and after they got their streak snapped at six games on Tuesday night. The Astros have won six of their last seven games.

#5 The A’s leave Houston and head back to the Coliseum for Thursday night’s contest with the Seattle Mariners. A big series with Seattle in third and the A’s in second 5 1/2 games in front of Seattle in the AL West.

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

Oakland Raiders podcast with Joe Hawkes Beamon: Raiders still far away from negotiations with Mack; What coach Gruden expects this season

Photo credit: @BR_NFL

On the Raiders podcast with Joe:

#1 With the Raiders headed to ready to conclude their final game of the 2018 preseason on Thursday at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, the talk has focused on Khalil Mack on the trip. Mack is reportedly no closer to signing with the Raiders since camp opened back in July.

#2 Mack is seeking a contract extension that would make him the highest player defensive player in the NFL. The asking price has been between $20 to $22 million per year on a six-year agreement. Mack and the Raiders are still far apart on raising Mack’s salary from $11 million per year.

#3 Raiders head coach Jon Gruden and general manager Reggie McKenzie were asked this week about Mack’s chances of signing–is the team close to making an agreement?–and neither could give an answer.

#4 Is Mack work worth the $7 to $11 million raise?

#5 The Raiders are in Seattle for Thursday night football and concluding the preseason. Joe talks about some of coach Gruden’s expectations.

Join Joe each week for the Raiders podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com. Also, join Tony Renteria for complete Oakland Raiders game coverage immediately after Thursday’s game.

Warren’s late touchdown wins it for the Raiders 13-6 over the Packers

Photo credit: @Raiders

By Jeremy Kahn

OAKLAND — With two preseason games down, and two to go, Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden is looking for backups.

With most of the starters on the bench by the beginning of the second quarter, Connor Cook and E.J. Manuel took over for Derek Carr after just one series.

In his only series, Carr went 2-for-3 for 68 yards, including a 49-yard pass to Amari Cooper, but it was the battle of kickers; however, it was a Chris Warren III one-yard run with 5:07 in the game that gave the Raiders a 13-6 victory over the Green Bay Packers at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on Friday night.

Treyvon Hester came up with the defensive play of the game, as he sacked Packers quarterback DeShone Kizer on fourth down and the Packers at the Raiders 24-yard line. It was a seven-yard sack for the second-year defensive tackle out of Toledo.

Unfortunately, the Raiders were unable to run out the clock and were forced to punt the ball back to the Packers; however, the Packers drive stalled in their own territory.

Brett Hundley went 8-for-14 for 78 yards, as he started for the Packers in place of Aaron Rodgers, who played at Cal after Butte College.

Cook went 6-for-15 for 72 yards and an interception before being replaced by Manuel, who went 8-for-12 for 87 yards passing.

In a game of field goals, Mike Nugent gave the Raiders the lead on their first series, as he kicked a 40-yard field goal.

On their ensuing drive, Mason Crosby kicked a 36-yard field goal to tie up and that was the score when the two teams went to the locker room.

Crosby gave the Packers their first lead of the game in the third quarter, as he nailed a 36-yard field goal.

Nugent then tied up at six, as he kicked a 40-yard field on the Raiders first drive in the fourth quarter.

Cooper caught one pass for 49 yards, while Jalen Richard caught three passes for 34 yards and Jared Cook caught two passes for 24 yards.

Doug Martin carried the ball six times for 24 yards, while Chris Warren III continues to make great strides to make the team, as he carried the ball 15 times for 54 yards and also caught one pass for seven yards.

NOTES: The Raiders’ next appearance at the Coliseum will be in the season opener on September 10, as they kick off their 58th season against the Los Angeles Rams, a team that the Raiders faced this past Saturday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and lost 22-16.

“I do not agree with playing a team in the preseason that we open the season with,” said Gruden, who also added, “I am sure that the Rams feel the same way.”

UP NEXT: The Raiders will head to Seattle to face the Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on Thursday night at 7 pm PDT to close out the preseason.