Tag: San Francisco

Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria: Green-Harden battle could just be the beginning of a physical series; Cano says he didn’t know he was taking steroids; Does Gruden know what he’s doing?

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Photo credit: @clevezirm

On the Headlines Sports podcast with Tony Renteria:

#1 Tony will be looking back a bit on that first game with the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors when the Rockets’ James Harden and the Warriors’ Draymond Green got into a scrap in the first few minutes.

#2 The Seattle Mariners’ Robinson Can came clean admitting he took a substance Furosemide, a diuretic he told reporters that he was given the substance by a doctor in the Dominican Republic, but didn’t realize it was a banned substance. Cano was suspended by MLB for 80 games and is one of the highest-paid players in the MLB.

#3 Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden has been getting some criticism about the way he’s handled personnel so far. He’s let go of Michael Crabtree, punter Marquete King and now Kahlil Mack’s contract, whose contract is coming up could be leaving. The Raiders are looking for some cap room.

#4 In spite of the A’s having the usual arm problems their starters have been coming through with Sean Manaea helping Oakland get a one run 6-5 win and Tuesday night with pitcher Daniel Mengden improving his record to 3-4, going six innings, eight hits, two runs, and three strikeouts and two wins in the series against Boston.

#5 The Giants, after losing five straight all on the road, have now won three straight and are preparing for the Colorado Rockies starting on Thursday night. The Rockies, who are in second place in the NL West, will be a test for San Francisco at AT&T Park after success against a last-place Reds team.

Tony does Headline Sports each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca and Morris Phillips: McCutchen and Giants swing for six doubles against Reds on Monday night

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photo @SFGiants: San Francisco Giants hitter Andrew McCutchen swings for one of his two doubles on Monday night at AT&T Park against the visiting Cincinnati Reds

On the Giants podcast with Michael and Morris:

The Cincinnati Reds came into AT&T Park on Monday night after sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers in four games and with a six game winning streak but ran into the Giants who had a six game losing streak until they snapped it on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-0.

With the win it picked up the Giants spirits and hitting as well on Monday they got help from Andrew McCutchen, Brandon Crawford, Buster Posey Brandon Belt, and Evan Longoria all who hit for doubles. Belt hit an eighth inning home run his seventh of the season with nobody out to help provide for the Giants offense.

The Giants got the 10-7 win and got their run production early three in the first, one in the second, two in the third, and later three in the sixth which helped because the Reds put seven runs on the board which in most circumstances is good enough to win a ball game normally.

Michael Duca and Morris Phillips do the Giants podcast weekly at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: After snapping six-game skid, Giants looking to get back on track in series with Reds in SF

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Photo credit: sfgate.com

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips:

The Giants, after dropping six straight games, finally got a win and took some of the pressure from a six-game skid in Pittsburgh with a 5-0 shutout being the pitching of Derek Holland, who went six-plus, four hits, no runs and seven strike outs. Holland’s five walks was the most he has given up thus far this season.

The Giants provided great defense behind Holland and didn’t commit an error. The team is leading the National League in errors with 31. The Giants also look forward to getting pitcher Madison Bumgarner healthy again.

Bumgarner threw off the mound tonight at AT&T Park before the Giants meeting with the Cincinnati Reds. Bumgarner will continue to rehab until his scheduled start on May 25th some 11 days from now. Meanwhile, the Reds, who are in last place, have recently found their way to the win column putting together a six-game win streak coming into AT&T tonight. The Reds have simply improved with good hitting and good defense.

Morris Phillips does the SF Giants podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants feature with Tony the Tiger Hayes: He was a Giant? Cesar Gutierrez, former infielder for SF in the 60s

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Topps 1970 baseball card of former San Francisco Giant and Detroit Tiger infielder Cesar Gutierrez

CESAR’S SALAD DAY

By Tony “Le Tigre” Hayes

Cesar Gutierrez – IF – 1967, 1969 – # 17

SAN FRANCISCO–He Was a Giant?

This slight 5’9″, 150 pound infielder – who spent parts of two seasons swinging and missing as a Giant – was alternately nicknamed, “Bandito” (he was a nifty base stealer) and “Cocoa” (for an undying love of Hershey bars).

But “The Enigma” would have equally worked for Gutierrez — especially in reference to the right-handed hitter’s perplexing batting results in the Majors.

Though he was a minor league career .299 hitter and even won a Triple-A batting title as a Giants farmhand, the Venezuelan was an underachieving big league batsman, hitting a moribund .235 in 223 MLB contests.

Gutierrez was practically an automatic out.

That is… with the exception of one stunning performance by Gutierrez as a Detroit Tiger in 1970, when the normally feeble swinger set a modern day big league record for most hits in a game without recording an out.

He batted 7-for-7, in a 9-8, 12-inning Tigers win at Cleveland in the night-cap of a double header (6/21/70).

Cesar batted safely off all six Cleveland pitchers that day.

He collected two singles off the Tribe’s Rick Austin (in his MLB debut), mashed a double and single off Dennis Higgins, laced another single off Fred Lasher, stroked another single against Dick Ellsworth and capped his day with yet another single off the losing pitcher Phil Hennigan.

Astonishing Gutierrez’s six singles and one double that day, fell just one short of the grand total of hits Gutierrez amassed as a Giant when he batted .182 in 33 contests.

Why Was He a Giant?
With the sure-handed Hal Lanier holding down shortstop in SF, Gutierrez was the back up to begin the 1967 campaign. but didn’t hang around long – spending most of the season at Triple-A Phoenix.

Coincidently he thrived in the desert, winning the Pacific Coast League batting crown with a .322 average.

Before & After
After spending all of 1968 back in the minors, Gutierrez made the Giants big club on Opening Day in 1969, but failed to get his bat in gear once again.

The Giants cut ties with Gutierrez later that season, trading the then 26 -year -old to the Tigers to complete an earlier deal for rubber-armed reliever Don McMahon.

Gutierrez finally got his shot to play in the bigs in 1970 and was Detroit’s starting shortstop for most of the season. But save his one heavy volume hit day – Gutierrez did not impress at the plate (.243).

He failed to hit a home run and to make matters worse, Gutierrez had more errors (23) than he did RBI (22). After the Tigers’ disappointing fourth place finish, the Bengals closed the curtains on the Gutierrez experiment.

He Wasn’t Omar Vizquel… But
After starting his Giants career 0-for-10, Gutierrez delivered his first two big league hits off of former 20-game winner Chris Short of Philadelphia in a 9-1 loss at Candlestick Park (9/29/67).

Giants Footprint
Since Gutierrez’s magical day at the plate in 1970, only two players have stroked seven hits in a game. They each have ties to the Orange & Black.

In 1975, as a member of the Pirates, future Giant Rennie Stennett batted 7-for-7 in a regulation 9-inning game.

Then in 2017, current SF player Brandon Crawford batted 7-for-8 in a 12-inning game.

Tony the Tiger Hayes does the Giants features. Catch him at http://www.sportsradioservice.com.

MLB The Show podcast with Daniel Dullum: Hit by sends Giants to six-game skid; Headley goes back to the minors; Zobrist’s black shoe banned from MLB

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@benzobrist18 photo: Ben Zobrist of the Chicago Cubs displays one of his banned black shoes from MLB on his hitting stick

On the MLB The Show podcast with Daniel Dullum:

1 Giants’ on six-game skid after losing to Pittsburgh on RBI HBP.

2 Padres designate Chase Headley for assignment.

3 Matt Harvey has a decent debut for Cincinnati.

4 Cubs’ Ben Zobrist busted by MLB for wearing traditional black cleats.

Daniel Dullum does the MLB The Show podcast each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria: How much help will Harden get facing Warriors in round 3?; Can Giants win this series in Pittsburgh tonight?; plus more

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photo from express.co.uk: The Houston Rockets Chris Paul (3) and James Harden (13) confer on the floor during the playoffs as the Rockets prepare to meet Golden State for game one round 3 of the NBA Playoffs

Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria:

#1 James Harden of the Houston Rockets–Will he be like an Island facing the Golden State Warriors Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, Stephen Curry, and Klay Thompson? Will he have a supporting cast in this upcoming series starting on Monday?

#2 Last year’s playoffs, Harden went 2-11 in the loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Will he get some help from his teammates this time around?

#3 The Giants are going into Pittsburgh after getting swept in Philadelphia. After getting swept, the Giants certainly want to get a series win from the Bucs.

#4 On Tuesday night, the Seattle Mariners pitcher James Paxton threw a no-hitter in Toronto, marking the first time a Canadian born pitcher threw a no-hitter in his home and native land. It’s the second time a Canadian pitcher threw a no-hitter since 1946.

#5 The Manchester United are in San Jose for a match with the San Jose Earthquakes on July 22. Tony takes a look at how important it is for the MLS to have Manchester here to help promote the league.

Tony Renteria does Headline Sports each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Coming off sweep, Giants–despite injuries–ready for Phillies

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Photo file from the midlanddailynews.com: San Francisco Giants’ Nick Hundley, right, celebrates after making the game-winning hit against the San Diego Padres in the ninth inning of a baseball game Monday, April 30, 2018, in San Francisco. Hundley lined a two-run single off Padres closer Brad Hand with two outs in the ninth inning, lifting the Giants to a 6-5 win over San Diego

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 San Francisco Giants came into Atlanta on Friday and snapped the Braves’ five-game win streak and later swept the series defeating Atlanta 4-3.

#2 Not an easy task for the Giants, but they accomplished a sweep over the Braves for the first time since 2014–the last time they won the World Series.

#3 The Giants got offensive help from Nick Hundley and Pablo Sandoval, who both got RBI singles in helping the four-run cause.

#4 The game on Saturday was a laugher for San Francisco with a 11-2 hitting rampage and it set the tone for the Giants, who were going to dominate this series at Sun Trust Field in Cobb County.

#5 The Giants open a three-game series in Philadelphia tonight at Citizens Bank. We asked Morris how he sees these two teams matching up.

Morris Phillips does the Giants podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips and Michael Duca: Elbow problems for Johnny Cueto, could it spell a season-ending injury?

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Photo credit: @mlbdepthcharts

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 How possible is this elbow injury for Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto being a season-ending injury?

#2 Will Cueto be considered for Tommy John surgery?

#3 Giant pitcher Will Smith has been activated Thursday after being on the DL from Tommy John surgery. Smith last pitched last season.

#4 Also, after the news about Cueto, the Giants pitcher Andrew Suarez was almost demoted to Triple-A Sacramento, but the Giants kept him up with the club to spot start and he’s slated to start on Tuesday in Philadelphia.

#5 What’s it like to see with Mac Williamson back in the lineup with his scheduled return on Saturday?

Giants podcasters Morris Phillips and Michael Duca podcasts Giants baseball each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Hundley to the rescue: Giants overcome two-run, ninth inning deficit to shock the Padres

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Nick Hundley anticipated batting with the bases loaded, two outs, and an opportunity to win Monday’s game.

He also knew manager Bruce Bochy would have few, palatable options beyond him if the game remained tied after the ninth inning.

And Hundley surmised these two scenarios before the inning began with the Giants facing an intimidating 5-3 deficit.

But if you’re a thoroughly invested, major leaguer being paid millions, what’s surprising about a little foresight if you have three hours of otherwise, idle time?

In Hundley’s case, not much.

“Just quick University of Arizona math on my part,” Hundley said.

The backup catcher’s pinch-hit single up the middle plated Buster Posey and Evan Longoria, and the Giants gained a 6-5 win over the Padres of weighty significance.

With a record of 15-14 the Giants are over .500 for the first time this season, and they have their first, full month of winning baseball in almost two years.

It appears the Giants are shedding that loosely defined label as MLB’s worst team based on their won-loss record since July 2016 when their issues arose. Simply, the NL West hopefuls have a nice set of gritty, late-inning wins already this season, and now they have a winning record, and second place in the division as well.

“It’s just great to see the guys fight all game and not quit,” said starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija.

The fight throughout the game couldn’t be minimized with the Giants scoring three times in the first, then going scoreless over the next seven frames as the Padres rallied, wearing down Samardzija, as they gained a 5-3 lead.

Longoria would commit two, uncharacteristic errors–the first a grounder that found its way through the third baseman’s legs in San Diego’s three-run sixth. But with the game in the balance, Longoria singled off closer Brad Hand, scoring Austin Slater, to narrow the deficit to 5-4. Brandon Belt, in a lefty versus lefty matchup, battled and drew a walk to load the bases. Hundley followed with his game-winning base hit, scoring Buster Posey and Longoria.

“We had some really long at-bats, and I’m sure that caught up with him,” Bochy said, explaining the tenor of the inning against a reliever in Hand that had plenty of previous success facing the Giants.

“I just didn’t shut them down. I didn’t have it today,” Hand revealed.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Giants try to keep it going tonight against Padres; Giants start Samardzija, who’s been struggling

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photo from the sandiegounion.com: Padres pitching coach Darren Balsley, left, heads back to the dugout after conferring with starting pitcher Eric Lauer in the first inning Tuesday night at Coors Field.

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips:

#1 Joe Panik is out with a thumb injury and will need surgery and will be out for 10 days maybe longer, according to the Giants’ medical staff.

#2 Evan Longoria’s home run helps San Francisco get a 4-2 win past the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday 4-2. It was Longoria’s sixth home run of the season.

#3 Pitcher Ty Blach got his second win, going six innings, six hits, two runs and four strikeouts.

#4 The Giants take three out four from the Dodgers and pick up their third straight series victory.

#5 The Giants open up a three game series tonight against Padres starter Eric Lauer (0-0) and Giants starer Jeff Samardjiza (1-1).

Morris Phillips does the Giants podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com