Tag: Oracle Park

Rafael Devers

Giants rout Sultanes de Monterrey 10-2 in penultimate preseason tuneup

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Photo credit: SF Bay News Lab

By Vince Cestone

The San Francisco Giants defeated the Sultanes de Monterrey of the Mexican League 10-2 on Monday night in their second-to-last spring training game at Oracle Park.

Even though the Giants were playing a non-major league team, it’s important for them to play good baseball–and that they did.

The Giants opened the scoring in the third inning with three runs against Sultanes starting pitcher Stephen Tarpley. Tarpley was most-recently in the Mets organization in 2021. Giants first baseman Casey Schmitt, who went 2-for-3 on Monday night, started the inning with a single. After catcher Patrick Bailey hit a ground ball base hit in between first and second, Schmitt advanced to third.

Then came up roster hopeful Jared Oliva, who came into the game hitting .375 for the spring. Oliva executed a an RBI bunt single to give the Giants their first run. The Giants scored after the very next batter Luis Arraez grounded into a fielder’s choice, but a throwing error by Sultanes shortstop Coco Montes allowed the second run to come in. The Giants got their third run later in the inning after right fielder Jung Hoo Lee hit a ground ball double just inside first.

The Giants tacked on another run in the fifth inning with the help of another throwing error by Montes off the bat of Matt Chapman.

The Sultanes scored their only two runs in the fifth inning on an RBI single by designated hitter Ramiro Pena and another RBI single by Josh Lester.

Then, the Giants played home run derby. Shortstop Willy Adames led off the sixth with a home run off of Sultanes pitcher Jake Higginbotham. But an encouraging sign came off the bat of Giants top prospect Bryce Eldridge, who launched a booming, opposite-field three-run homer to make the score 8-2 in the eighth inning. Eldridge had recently been sent down to the minor leagues and will start the season in Triple-A Sacramento. Tyler Fitzgerald followed with a two-run home run two batters later.

On the pitching side, nine Giants pitchers threw one inning each. All San Francisco pitchers threw scoreless innings, except for Carson Seymour, who gave up two runs and four hits in his inning of work. Spencer Bivens, who started the game, Tristan Beck, and Marques Johnson each had two strikeouts and no walks in their innings. Caleb Killian, who is opening eyes in spring training, pitched a perfect fifth inning. In 9 1/3 innings pitched in spring training, Killian came into the game with a 0.96 ERA and 11 strikeouts.

Up next, the Giants will conclude their Cactus League schedule on Tuesday night against the Sultanes once again. First pitch is at 6:45 p.m. The Giants will open the regular season on Wednesday night against the New York Yankees at Oracle Park. Game time will be 5:05 p.m.

Oracle Park

SLIDESHOW: Food, mariachi, Chick-fil-A and more: What’s new at Oracle Park in 2026

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By Vince Cestone

Slideshow is at the bottom of the article (photos by the author Vince Cestone)

2026 isn’t just a new season on the field for the San Francisco Giants, but fans also get to try some new things at Oracle Park this season.

From Lucky Fries, to Chick-fil-A signage on the “fowl” poles, and to even an in-house mariachi band, the Oracle Park faithful have plenty of things to look forward to in 2026.

Among the highlights is an in-house mariachi band that will play at Oracle Park during all Saturday home games. The Giants will also wear a new Gigantes jersey on the field, which honors the Latino community, the team said. Local talent performing on these Saturday home games include Mariachi San Francisco, La Explosiva Sonora MX, and Comando Único. DJ collective Sazón Libre, who is based in the Mission District, will provide the music during the Fiesta Gigante Saturdays.

On the food side, the Giants are debuting Lucky Fries, a Birria Loaded Grilled Cheese sandwich, a new carvery, a dessert chimichanga, and two new hot dogs, among other items. Sports Radio Service’s Marko Ukalovic’s favorite was the Lucky Fries. Giants writer Vince Cestone agrees. In the slideshow below, you can see all the ingredients of each food item. The Giants even are debuting a new wine club.

Another noticeable change are both the left and right field “fowl” poles. Chick-fil-A has vertical signage in classic Chick-fil-A style on the two foul poles. Both foul poles read, “Chikin iz fare.”

The Giants will open the 2026 season on March 25 against the New York Yankees at Oracle Park.

Here’s a slide show of some of the new happenings at Oracle Park this season:

  • Giants in-house mariachi band
  • Giants in-house mariachi band
  • Giants in-house mariachi band
  • Birria loaded quesadilla
  • Birria loaded grilled cheese sandwich
  • Birria loaded grilled cheese sandwich
  • Beef Bulgogi
  • Beef Bulgogi
  • Beef Bulgogi
  • Beef Bulgogi
  • Giants wine club
  • Peruchín Sandwich
  • Peruchín Sandwich
  • Giants wine club
  • Lucky Fries
  • Lucky Fries
  • Lucky Fries
  • Assortment of Oracle Park desserts
  • Dessert chimichanga
  • Assortment of Giants desserts
  • Assortment of Giants desserts
  • Assortment of Giants desserts
  • Orange and Black Hot Dog
  • Char Siu Dog
  • Char Siu Dog
  • Char Siu Dog
  • 999 package
  • Giants 2026 souvenir cups
  • Assortment of Giants food items
  • Hello Kitty palm palm
  • New Chic-Fil-A signage on the left field foul pole.
  • New Chic-Fil-A signage on the right field foul pole.
  • New Chic-Fil-A signage on the right field foul pole.
  • Oracle Park
    Oracle Park on March 18, 2026
  • Oracle Park on March 18, 2026

Possible work stoppage for Giants opening day 2026 by ballpark workers podcast: Aramark technology expansion could slash jobs at Oracle Park

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Concession stands service employees at Oracle Park could be replaced by auto robots according to Local 2 Unite Here employees (photo by On Labor)

By Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–Aramark, the official food and concessions supplier for the San Francisco Giants, is reportedly set to add more kiosks and other self-serve technology at concession stands throughout Oracle Park next season, according to sources at UNITED HERE Local 2, the union that represents employees of Aramark at Oracle Park.

At the start of this season, Aramark introduced Mashgin AI self-checkout kiosks for fans to access at Oracle Park. They were established at a new Doggie Diner Express stand on the promenade level behind section 112, as well as at nine Bayside Brews beverage markets located throughout the ballpark.

It now appears that this technology will expand to other locations in the ballpark next season. If it goes through, it could put the jobs of many of Aramark’s employees in jeopardy.

Aramark replaced Bon Appetit as the official food supplier for the Giants in 2024. However, UNITED HERE Local 2 and its employees have been a consistent presence serving Giants’ fans at Oracle Park for many years. Many of the workers were serving food at the ballpark, even for Bon Appetit’s predecessor, Center Plate.

Self-technology has been a contentious issue for the union and its workers going back to the fall of 2021. In September 2021, then-Bon Appetit workers authorized a strike over the working conditions at Oracle Park, following the return of fans to the park during the Covid Pandemic. A strike was averted, and another collective bargaining agreement was reached in March 2024.

We had a chance to interview Rhonda Mitchell Unite Here Union Local 2 who talked about the auto robots who are planned to replace food service workers at Oracle Park. Mitchell says that if this comes to fruition there could be a work stoppage that could threaten the Giants home opener in 2026.

In an interview with Local 2 Unite Here Oracle Park Shop Steward Rhonda S Mitchell she discussed the possibility of using auto robots to replace food service workers at Oracle Park:

#1 How much of the food services is being earmarked for auto replacement of the food service people.

#2 Aramark says they refuse to agree on future limits on automation. If that’s going to be iron clad what recourse does the union have.

#3 Under Bon Appetit same union Local 2 that last time the union had to call for a work stoppage.
An alleged offer of a 25-cent raise to San Francisco Giants’ concession workers is outdated information from September 2021. The offer was rejected by unionized workers, who authorized a strike against the food service contractor, Bon Appétit Management, and the Giants over wage and safety issues. The dispute was ultimately settled with a more substantial agreement. The food service workers actually blocked an aisle at Oracle Park to demonstrate the Bon Appetite 25 cent raise.

#4 How much influence or how much say does the Giants have in the idea of having robot auto food servers or what they expect from labor at the park?

#5 If Aramark were to get their way and install the auto robots talk about how much this impact workers and their families and benefits. I’m sure when the Oakland A’s moved from Oakland a lot of those workers were impacted by losing those jobs?

Stephen Ruderman was a San Francisco Giants beat writer for the 2025 season at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants Pecked and Beaten by the Cardinals 6-1 in the Final game of the season; lose series (2-1), finish two games below  .500 in contest #162

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San Francisco Giants starter Hayden Birdsong was dealing early in the game keeping the St Louis Cardinals off balance striking out 11 hitters. Things fell apart in the top of the fifth when Birdsong had left and gave up three unearned runs. (AP News photo)

By Michael Roberson

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The San Francisco Giants (80-82) finished the 2024 season on a sour note, by losing the last game 6-1 and series (2-1) of the year to the St. Louis Cardinals (83-79) in front of 32, 248 disappointed fans, Sunday Afternoon by the Bay at Oracle Park.

On a Noon start time and a pleasant 62 degrees in the City. the Giants were aiming to win the series and achieve the safe .500 status. However, the 6-1 loss put their record to two games below .500. at 80-82, instead of 81-81.

“Regardless of what our record was, it would have been disappointing, based on what we felt the team was all about at the beginning of the season.” Stated Giants Manager Bob Melvin about not reaching .500. “Either if it were 81-81 or 80-82 it still was not going to feel much better, regardless.”

The game itself got off to a slow start, as no one scored until the third inning. Unfortunately that happened to be the road team from the Midwest. The Cardinals went up 1-0 off the bat of second baseman Brendan Donovan, as he belted a solo home run to right field, near McCovey Cove.

Two innings later, Donovan was at it again as a run producer. This at bat he hit an RBI single, scoring shortstop Thomas Saggese. The Cardinals temporarily led 2-0. Then left fielder Alec Burleson duplicated the previous feat with his own RBI single. He plated Pedro Peges, putting them up 3-0 after 5 innings of play.

In the top of the sixth stanza, St. Louis decided to double their score, while still simultaneously shutting out the Giants. Third baseman Jose Fermin continued the RBI single barrage by knocking in outfielder Michael Siani, expanding the lead to four.

Burleson repeated his last plate appearance with–you guessed it–another RBI single; however, this line drive scored two runners (Jordan Walker & Fermin). The Birds from the LOU were up a whopping 6-0 at that juncture of the game.

The Giants did show enough pride to prevent an embarrassing shutout at the Oracle Park Finale in the bottom of the seventh inning, second baseman Brett Wisely was on the other end of the ever so common RBI single. His hit brought in infielder Casey Schmitt, eliminating the Goose Egg the Giants were facing as season’s end.

After seven innings, San Francisco was finally on the scoreboard and had two innings to mount a dramatic final comeback. That did not come to fruition, so the Giants had to settle for a 6-1 loss, and the distinction of finishing the season below the magic .550 line. This imaginary line delineates a winning or non-winning season in all sports.

That’s a WRAP for the 2024 MLB season for the two Bay Area teams. In the 2025 season, the Giants will have the nine county region all to themselves, as the the now former cross-Bay neighboring Oakland Athletics, will be relocating to the State Capital city of Sacramento, with the final destination being in Las Vegas in 2028 with their former roommate, the Raiders.

Oakland A’s relocation podcast Augie Mesenburg: Sacramento is A’s first choice for 2025 season; City of Oakland wants guarantee of expansion team

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Oakland A’s team president David Kaval has met with the Oakland Coliseum Joint Powers regarding a lease extension beyond 2024. The A’s could play the remaining three years at the Coliseum 2025-27 before the Tropicana ballpark is ready in Las Vegas (photo by ABC Sky7 still photo)

On the Oakland A’s relocation podcast with Augie:

#1 The Oakland A’s brass met with the Oakland Coliseum Joynt Powers. Seeing that players’ union most likely will not sign off to play in a minor league ballpark and most importantly the A’s don’t want to miss out on that $67 million annual television money from NBC Bay Area Sports California contract.

#2 There has been no disclosure to how much a year and how long the A’s will be staying at the Coliseum as the new park in Las Vegas is supposed to be ready by 2028. It’s sounding like it might be the three years 2025-27 to finish up in Oakland similar to what the Raiders did before they left Oakland for Las Vegas.

#3 Some are asking could this lead to something being worked out with the Mayor of Oakland and the City of Oakland for a chance that the A’s brass could re-visit Howard Terminal again? It doesn’t seem likely on the surface but there are two law suits coming from Strong Public Schools and Schools over Stadiums that will challenge the Nevada public funding of the Tropicana ballpark and the A’s might be looking at a back up plan.

#4 Augie, the A’s try hard as they may have not nailed down a location to play their games after 2024. A’s owner John Fisher and team president David Kaval have looked at numerous sites Las Vegas Ballpark (home of the A’s minor league triple A team), Sutter Health Park (home of the Sacramento Rivercats), Salt Lake City (home of the minor league Bees), and Oracle Park in San Francisco. All of the parks didn’t work out either it was a minor league park or at Oracle Park they would have to share it with the Giants and the Giants were concerned about the turf being torn up. The latest from Thursday’s news is Sacramento’s Sutter Health Ballpark is a front runner for the A’s in 2025.

#5 This might be more than just a kick the tires meeting to see if it’s worth to come back to the Coliseum after 2024 the A’s who were rumored at one point considering just shutting down operations between 2025-28 have not much choice and no where to go but the Coliseum until the new park in Vegas is ready that is if the Vegas ballpark can withstand the lawsuits by Schools over Stadiums and Strong Public Schools in Las Vegas.

Augie Mesenburg filled in for Daniel Dullum for the Oakland A’s relocation podcasts heard Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com. Augie is also a reporter for KHAI FM 104.5 and AM 950 Honolulu.

Super Bowl LVII/Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O: 49ers and Chiefs what are the differences in teams; Will A’s shutdown operations after 2024?

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Artists rendition of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback (13) Pat Mahomes standing in front of Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas (NFL.com image)

On Headlines Sports podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Charlie, looking at the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs for Super Bowl LVIII what do you consider some of the key differences between the two teams?

#2 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that he knew that quarterback Brock Purdy was going to be their quarterback based on what he had seen from former 49ers quarterbacks Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance. Looks like Shanahan called it.

#3 Charlie, some of the right wing have said that it’s a fix that the Chiefs are in the Super Bowl that the officials missed some calls in order for the Baltimore Ravens to lose to the Chiefs because they wanted a path for Chiefs Travis Kelce and superstar singer Taylor Swift to be the face of the Super Bowl. Some in the right think the Chiefs are also fixed to win the Super Bowl because of the Swiftie tie in. The thinking is the Chiefs winning would help influence President Biden’s re-election campaign with another Swift endorsement. What do you make of the still discussed story?

#4 Turning to Major League Baseball and the Oakland A’s ballpark saga, the latest for the A’s 2025-27 seasons has several candidates now with Salt Lake City supposedly running in the lead, Portland says they are welcoming the A’s and further saying if it doesn’t work out in Vegas the City of Portland will pay for the park, retail, ballpark village housing, ballpark and put it on the Red Tail Golf Course in Beaverton outside of Portland, Sacramento could be a surprise, Oracle Park looks like a long shot too much baseball for the field, Summerlin looks out of the hunt, and the Oakland Coliseum doesn’t look like it has a chance and John Fisher A’s owner owns half of the Oakland Coliseum property.

#5 The last option that has raised eye brows as well as the ire of the Players Union from reliable sources that the A’s would consider shutting down operations and not play for the next three years after the 2024 season is completed. The idea being that Fisher can save, raise funds for his share of the construction costs of building the Vegas Ballpark without having to pay for employees, players and contractors for three lame duck seasons.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: A’s considering modeling Vegas park after Globe Life in Arlington

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Talk of the Oakland A’s modeling their new Las Vegas ballpark after Globe Life Field in Arlington complete with retractable roof. The Las Vegas A’s park is expected to be completed by 2028. (photo from Ballparks of Baseball)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, according to the Las Vegas Review Journal the Oakland A’s are looking at Globe Life Field in Arlington as a blue print for their Tropicana Ball Park. Globe Life was built in 2020 has a full retractable roof and seats 40,000. The A’s last proposal said they would seat 30,000 fans at the Tropicana in Vegas.

#2 A retractable roof at the A’s Vegas ball park most likely will only be opened maybe 10-11 times a season as it gets up to 102-1110 during the summer month of June, July and August. If the A’s have a retractable roof it will be at the cost of $100 million.

#3 Amaury, the A’s if they have the retractable roof will be using the park not only for baseball but for multi purpose events like concerts and public events. The question is can the A’s sell out every event like they say they can for the next 30 years some would say it’s doubtful.

#4 According to Dave Sampson the former Miami Marlins team president who podcasts on the show “Nothing Personal” said that the A’s deal to Vegas is not done yet despite the owners voting 30-0. There are two things that could hold things up John Fisher the team owner still needs to come up with his share of the construction money for the Vegas ballpark. Fisher is hedging his hopes that financing will be from tourism. The Vegas fan base will be too small to support the A’s but visitors from out of town are who the A’s are hanging their hats on.

#5 The question as to where the A’s play after 2024 is still up in the air as the Oakland Coliseum is the best location for the A’s to play 2025-27 in. The A’s have explored minor league parks and Oracle Park in San Francisco as places to go to but still don’t have an answer yet.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: How serious is a deal for A’s playing last 3 years in San Francisco?; Dodgers top pick so far for Ohtani

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Former Los Angeles Angels two way player Shohei Ohtani won the 2023 AL MVP and is an odds on favorite to join the Los Angeles Dodgers for the 2024 season. It’s yet to be determined. (AP News file photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Insiders have said that Oakland A’s president David Kaval after the MLB owners vote to move to Las Vegas that Oracle Park home of the San Francisco Giants could be the home of the A’s for the remaining three years 2025-27 while they wait for the Tropicana ballpark to be completed by 2028. How strong do you see that possibility.

#2 It’s ironic if the Giants were to allow the A’s to play at Oracle Park for the 2025-27 season in San Francisco after not allowing the A’s to have territorial rights to move to San Jose and now will allow them to come to Oracle and play their final three years in the San Francisco.

#3 No surprises here as former Los Angeles Angel Shohei Ohtani was named the AL MVP, Ohtani the two way player was 10-5 with an ERA of 3.14 pitching and hit .305 with 151 hits, 44 home runs, 102 runs, and 95 RBIs.

#4 Atlanta Braves Ronald Acuna Jr won the NL MVP hitting .337, 149 runs, 41 home runs, and 106 RBIs. Both Acuna and Ohtani won by unanimous decisions which is a first in the 92 years of the award.

#5 Ohtani is up for free agency is still waiting through the bidding and what team he would like to go and play for. The Los Angeles Dodgers are the odds on favorites in the Ohtani sweepstakes followed by the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants.

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

Headline Sports with Charlie O: Will A’s finish up their Bay Area days at Oracle Park in San Francisco?

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Will Oracle Park be a landing place for the Oakland A’s after the 2024 season?, the A’s would not lose a share of Bay Area TV revenue between 2025-27 while the Tropicana Park is being built in Las Vegas (SF Travel file photo)

On Headline Sports with Charlie O:

#1 How crazy will it be to have the San Francisco Giants host the Oakland A’s at Oracle Park in the 2025 through the 2027 seasons while the Tropicana is being built after the Giants would not cede South Bay territorial rights to the A’s.

#2 The A’s know they will not get the cut of Bay Area TV money if they were to play in Nevada or Sacramento and just to go ahead and finish they’re last three season in the Bay Area in San Francisco.

#3 The relationship between the City of Oakland and A’s owner John Fisher and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is so toxic because of how they got to this place it’s very unlikely the A’s will finish their last three seasons at the Oakland Coliseum.

#4 A’s fans led by the Oakland 68’s have called for a boycott, not a reverse boycott but a full on boycott for no one to show up at the A’s opening day game on Thu Mar 29th at the Coliseum against Cleveland.

#5 There has been some hope that Schools over Stadiums will get it together and get the court to approve their petition to get signed by some 102,000 Nevada residents, put the no public funding for the ballpark on the Nevada ballot for vote in Nov 2024 also Rep Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) and Rep Mark DeSaulnier will introduce the “Moneyball act” a measure that would require Oakland A’s owner John Fisher or any Major League Baseball owner who relocates it’s team 25 miles from it’s former location to compensate their former community or MLB would lose it’s anti trust exemption.

Charlie O does Headline Sports podcasts Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Daniel Dullum: Oakland Mayor wants to keep A’s name and wants an expansion team in exchange for lease extension

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Oakland Coliseum could be the home of the Oakland A’s from 2025-2027 if they can’t land either at Oracle Park in San Francisco or at the Las Vegas Ballpark while their new park at the Tropicana on the Las Vegas strip is under construction (AP file photo)

On the A’s podcast with Daniel:

#1 Daniel, the Oakland A’s will still be at the Oakland Coliseum next season, the Nevada Independent reported that the A’s could make an early leap for Las Vegas but that has not been determined yet. The A’s are considering many venue options one of them is using their minor league facility in Vegas which the Aviators are using. A’s president David Kaval that there needs to be upgrades and the A’s might re-think using the Aviators 10,000 seat facility.

#2 The A’s reportedly have explored playing at the Oakland Coliseum until their new ballpark at the Tropicana on the strip is ready. There in lies the problem as Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao wants some concessions before the A’s get committed to the Coliseum as a lame duck team, one is the city of Oakland keeps the team name A’s and MLB commits to expanding to Oakland when expansion opens up.

#3 Kaval said that the decision of where the A’s will play after 2024 is totally up to MLB Commissioner and Rob Manfred. Kaval did say that the A’s have looked at three locations Oracle Park in San Francisco and share the park with the Giants, Aviators Park/Las Vegas ballpark in Vegas, and the Oakland Coliseum.

#4 Some have said that it’s a bad idea for the A’s to play at Aviators park because it becomes a spoiler to the A’s 2028 arrival and it kind of blows the hype of the team after being there for three years in the making and sharing the ballpark with the Giants might not be a good idea because that’s a lot of wear on the turf for 162 games.

#5 Staying at the Oakland Coliseum from 2025-2027 might be the best place and they might as well finish up what they started and visiting teams have said they want to play in Major League facility rather than playing in a minor league facility like Las Vegas.

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