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Aces Break 2-Game Losing Streak Beating a Feisty Golden State Squad In a Thriller 104-102

Published on July 12, 2025July 12, 2025 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) loses control of the ball after being fouled by Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton, left, during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Saturday, July 12, 2025, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)Steve Marcus/Associated Press

By Rich Perez

It was far from easy for the Las Vegas Aces (10-11) as they beat the Golden State Valkyries (10-10) in a thriller 104-102 breaking their two-game losing streak on Saturday. The Valkyries were on fire in the first half hitting nine three’s but fell short in the second half as the Aces really stepped up taking the lead for most of the third and fourth quarters.

A’Ja Wilson had 25 points in the first half along with 16 rebounds (another double double for her) and finished with 34 points. Jackie Young finished off this game hitting four free throws down the stretch, two of them in the final 6.5 seconds of play.

As this game got underway at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, the Aces took a slim lead after the first quarter of play leading 23-21. Despite being a new franchise, the Valkyries have had a great start to the season with a 11-10 record in sixth place in the Western Conference. The first quarter had been a hotly contested affair.

Golden State won the second quarter outscoring the Aces 25-22. At the half the Valkyries had a single point lead 46-45. The Ace’s Wilson had her highest scoring half with 25 points. Las Vegas would need more from Chelsea Gray and also from Jewell Loyd in the second half of play.

The Valkyries led for much of the first half but the Aces turned that all-around in the the quarter. They took as much as a seven point lead in the quarter and after three quarters led 76-72. Jewell Loyd got really hot in the second half and finished the first three quarters with 15 points. Las Vegas needed to extend their lead and put this game away putting an end to their losing streak.

At 7:09 in the fourth quarter, the Aces had established an 85-77 lead. Jackie Young was on a roll with 20 points. Wilson had another double double already with 13 rebounds to accompany her 28 points and she was far from finished.

Every time the Valkyries made a move in the final quarter, the Aces had the answer. Golden State was doing everything they could to put the stops on Wilson but it was not working. With five minutes left in the game, the Aces had a 87-81 lead.

There was still a lot of time on clock for either of these two teams to come away with a win. As the clock ticked away with under four minutes the Aces really clamped down on the Valkyries leading 90-81. The Valkyries had not had a three in the second half after hitting 9 in the first half but with three plus minutes left in the game they hit their tenth and it was a four point game 90-86 with Las Vegas hanging. This game was going down to the wire.

There were two play stoppages in the final minutes of the fourth quarter which really challenged both teams down the stretch. Both reviews favored the Aces. With 1:34 left on the clock the Valkyries not only scored but drew a foul and this game was tied at 94.

With under a minute left the Aces took back the lead at 98-94 in a wild finish. Las Vegas finished off this game with a couple of free throws from Jackie Young with 6.5 seconds left on the clock and the Aces had broken their losing streak; the final was 104-102.

The Las Vegas Aces found a way to finish this game but a lot of credit has to go to the Golden State Valkyries who fought tooth and nail throughout the entire game. The Aces had weathered the storm with Wilson scoring 34 points, finishing with yet another double double , Young with 30 points and Jewell Loyd with 15 points. The Aces were 10 of 10 from the line in the fourth quarter.

The Valkyries starting lineup had a great showing with every player scoring in double digits. Tiffany Hayes and Janelle Salaun finishing with 16 points apiece.

Game notes: The 2025 season has not started the way the Aces had envisioned. Last season they lost in the playoffs to the eventual winners in the semi-final round and going into 2025 they came in with high hopes that have not panned out.

Their starting roster has most of last years starters with the addition of Jewell Loyd. They have lost two games in a row and Saturday the Aces got back on track as they took on the new franchise, the Valkyries. Las Vegas is ninth in the standings, a position that they could not have imagined going into the season.

They missed Wilson for a few games who was on concussion protocol. Wilson also missed their last game with an injured right wrist in a loss to the Mystics and before that they dropped a game to the New York Liberty. The season is almost at the half-way mark and there is till a lot of time to move up in the standings and Saturday they got a great opportunity to end their losing skid.

Las Vegas will not take the court until next Wednesday when they hit the road taking on the Dallas Wings followed by the All-Star game next Saturday. Tipoff for this game is scheduled for 5:00 PM.

Tune in for the All-Star game next Saturday with tipoff scheduled for 5:30 PM on ABC. The Aces Wilson will be a starter on Team Clark chosen at pick # 5 and Jackie Young was selected for the second team picked at # 18. Las Vegas will be back in regular season action on Tuesday night taking on the Atlanta Dream.

Ballers continue to roll shutout Vibes 9-0

Published on July 12, 2025 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The Pioneer League first half champions Oakland Ballers continue to roll with a win over the Rocky Mountain Vibes 9-0 on Fri Jul 11, 2025 (Oakland Ballers x photo)

Rocky Mountain Vibes (22-23) 000 000 000 0 5 1

Oakland Ballers (35-11) 015 020 10x 9 12 3

Time: 2:47

Attendance:2,872

Friday, July 11, 2025

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–Who says a baseball game has to be close, or even significant, to be interesting? Certainly not the first half champion Oakland Ballers and the Rocky Mountain Vibes, the team they defeated on Thursday the 10th to clinch the championship and who fell to the champs this Friday the 11th by the overwhelming score of 9-0 in an anti-climactic game that featured, as the result indicates, excellent offense and defence by the home team and a series of of out of the ordinary events that kept the crowd of 2,872 entertained but by no means on edge of their seats.

Here’s a partial list of those happenings: Cam Bufford, usually a DH or third baseman, played first base for the entire nine innings. Six different players occupied the seventh slot in the batting order; five of them were pitchers, and three of them actually threw at least one pitch in anger.

The two more were pinch hitters, and one, Zach St. Pierre (who else?) was a pinch runner. Lou Helmig, whose sixth inning opposite field single drove in the tie breaking run in Thursday’s tense victory, drove in three runs in tonight’s laugher, two of them on a fifth inning round tripper.

The B’s scored their first run in the second frame. Their first hit came in the third, a two out homer by Bufford that ignited a five run outburst that sealed the Vibes’ doom The visitors showed some slight signs of life in their last turns at the plate.

Ryan Pierce, making a rare start at the hot corner for Oakland, committed three errors in the game. Two of them enabled Rocky Mountain’s first two ninth inning batters to reach base. This didn’t faze Adam Bogasian, one of the half dozen seventh slotters, who promptly fanned Will Butcher, and got Stephen Wilmer, the ex-Baller who had homered the night before, to hit into a 1-3 DP.

Bogasian seemed to pick the ball that had been shot to him right out of his hip pocket Noah Millikan earned the win with six innings of four hit shutout ball.

That’s the Pioneer League equivalent of a complete game. Calem Franzin, along with Bogasian one of the pair of seventh slotters who didn’t make a plate appearance, gave up one hit and struck out four in his two innings. Bogasian mopped up the mess in the top of the ninth.

Nick Leehey, giving Tremayne Cobb a day off from playing short, and Esai Santos, filling in for second sacker Danny Harris, were the only Baller starters to go hitless. Helmig led the team in hits, with three. Tyler Losano had gone one for one when what could have been a damaged hamstring pulled him out of action and precipitated the overcrowding of the seventh spot in the order.

The fun and games will resume Saturday, afternoon at 4:35, followed by the last game of the first half of the season on Sunday the 13th at 1:35.

MLB The Show podcast Bruce Macgowan: Dodger-Giant rivalry history; Will Bonds ever get in the Hall? Giants pay tribute with “House that Barry Built” video

Published on July 12, 2025 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Barry Bonds addresses the media during a 2003 press conference at the height of the BALCO controversy. Bonds is being honored by the San Francisco Giants with the video called “The house that Barry Bonds built” (SF Gate file photo)

MLB The Show podcast Bruce Macgowan:

#1 The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants have some long and rich history that goes back to the late 1940s and through the 1950s and through today.

#2 Talking about some of those historic days of the Dodgers and Giants rivalries you were at the game in 1965 when former Giant Juan Marichal hit former Dodger John Roseboro with a bat on the head and causing a bench clearing melee. Years later Marichal made up with Roseboro. The baseball writers at the time didn’t vote to put Marichal in the Hall of Fame because of the incident but Roseboro went to the writers and said to give Marichal another chance and it was something that Marichal was forever grateful for.

#3 Former Dodger managers Walter Alston and Tommy LaSorda were legendary managers and took the Dodgers to the World Series. With current manager Dave Roberts he’s taken the Dodgers to the World Series numerous times under his tutelage do you consider Roberts in that same circle as Alston and LaSorda?

#4 The Giants are paying tribute to Barry Bonds with a video called “The House that Barry Built” some reporters and talk show hosts point out why are the Giants paying tribute to Bonds, that there is a reason why Bonds has not been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. They say he was a huge part of the BALCO controversy, he had alleged connections to steroids through his former trainer Greg Anderson and that he’s guilty in the court of public opinion as far as the BBWAA is concerned regarding the Federal Grand Jury investigation where he said he unknowingly took steroids and was found guilty of obstruction of justice. Does that all go away now that the Giants want to pay tribute to him?

#5 One of the biggest fears that fans have is what took place at Dodger Stadium when ICE agents showed up at their front gates trying to gain access to get at fans, employees, and anyone that moved. The Dodgers wound denying ICE access to the park. Is this still something that fans, employees and maybe even the players have to worry about at ball games?

Bruce Macgowan is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants garnered a thrilling victory in the series opener versus Dodgers 8-7, on a cool Friday Night in the Bay

Published on July 12, 2025 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giant Dominic Smith gives praise to the almighty after hitting a bottom of the fifth inning home run off the Los Angeles Dodgers at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Fri July 11, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Michael Roberson

SAN FRANCISCO. Calif. — The San Francisco Giants (52-43) handed the slumping defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers (56-39) their seventh straight loss 8-7, in front of a raucous sellout (40,785) crowd at Oracle Park on Friday night.

It was an electric atmosphere on the corners of 3rd and King. Mostly for the Japanese Sensation and 2024 MVP Shohei Othtani. Although his team took another L, the fans did get their money’s worth with his moderate performance.

The Dodgers did get on base right away, as Ohtani walked as the initial batter of the game. However, he nor the rest of the Dodgers did not cross the plate in the top of the first.

The Giants, on the other hand, did change the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning when shortstop Willy Adames belted a solo home run. The home team was on top 1-0 after two frames.

However, immediately in the top of the third inning, the aforementioned Ohtani blasted a two run homer into the vaunted McCovey Cove amidst the gasping crowd. Los Angeles moved in front, 2-1. Infielder Hyeseong Kim also scored on the dinger. There was definitely a Buzz all throughout the ballpark.

The Giants responded in their half of the fourth inning, when center fielder Jung Hoo Lee hit a two run triple. That feat scored Rafael Devers and Matt Chapman. The Giants retook the lead 3-2 at that point, but unfortunately Lee was tagged out at the plate on a bang-bang play by left fielder Michael Conforto. That momentarily stopped the bleeding.

The bottom of the fifth inning was a pinnacle moment in the contest. The Giants scored five runs in that inning, and seemingly put the game out of reach for the struggling ball team from Southern California. The Giants used a multitude of ways to cross home plate in the fifth.

First baseman Dominic Smith hit a deep homer to left-center, putting his team up by two, 4-2. Next, Chapman got a fielder;s choice RBI, plating catcher Patrick Bailey. Then Adames slapped a two-run triple to center field, allowing Chapman and Mike Yastrzemski to score. Finally, Lee’s single knocked in Adames, culminating the five run fifth inning explosion. San Francisco led 8-2 after the midpoint No Cal/So Cal Battle.

Never underestimate the heart of a champion, despite them limping into the Bay Area. LA managed to cut the six run deficit to two, after a four-run sixth. Teoscar Hernandez hit a two-run double, pushing in Lee and Mookie Betts. Michael Conforto blasted a two run homer, bringing in Hernandez, along with himself.

There was worry in Downtown San Francisco, and that was even more exacerbated in the top of the seventh block, Will Smith cracked a single, scoring Betts, and placing the Dodgers one run behind the recently scoreless Giants.

In the top of the ninth inning, the guests from the South had two men on base and the opportunity to tie or take the lead, Oracle was a very intense environment for the competitive moment in time for the California rivals of today, and NYC rivals nearly 70 years ago.

The moment of truth was when reliever Camiio Doval forced the Dodgers to hit into a game-saving 5-4-3 double-play, extending the Dodgers losing streak to seven. Doval notched his 15th save of the season, while Logan Webb got the win (9-6). The Giants prevailed by one, 8-7.

The two teams will be right back at it Saturday Afternoon, July 12 at 1:05 PM PT, with the multifaceted RHP Shohei Ohtani (0-0, ERA 1.50) on the mound for the Dodgers, and RHP Landon Roupp (6-5,ERA 3.39) on the bump for the Giants.

Fireworks After the Firestorm as Athletics Nearly Burn the Jays; Sacramento loses in nailbiter 7-6

Published on July 12, 2025 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Sacramento A’s starter Luis Severino pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays in the top of the second inning at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Fri Jul 11, 2025 (AP News photo)

Fireworks After the Firestorm as Athletics Nearly Burn the Jays; Sacramento loses in nailbiter 7-6

By Mauricio Segura

There was no shortage of heat at Sutter Health Park on Friday night, and we’re not just talking about the triple-digit temperature that greeted the first pitch. Under a fiery Sacramento sky, the Athletics fell just short of a miracle comeback, dropping a 7-6 heartbreaker to the Toronto Blue Jays in front of 7950 fans at Sutter Health Park. While the box score won’t show a win, this one will stick in the memory bank, if only for the sheer chaos and late-game fireworks.

Luis Severino, who’s been carrying the weight of the season’s struggles, started for the Green and Gold and immediately found himself navigating minefields. The right-hander entered the game with a league-worst home ERA, and his woes continued. Though he managed to escape the early innings without damage, Toronto’s bats came alive in the fifth inning and didn’t show mercy.

The fifth began with a throwing error from second baseman Zack Gelof and quickly spiraled into disaster. A rare double steal saw Vladimir Guerrero Jr. swipe second and George Springer sprint home, putting the Jays up 2-0. That was just the spark.

After a pair of RBI singles and a bases-loaded single from Myles Straw, the floodgates burst open. When Nathan Lukes laced a two-run double, his seventh of the season, the scoreboard screamed 7-0 in favor of the visitors. Severino was done for the night, his ERA inflating to 5.30 as the Sacramento crowd sighed and sweat in unison.

To Severino’s credit, the struggles aren’t new. He’s been a tale of two pitchers in 2025, solid on the road but cursed at home. With this loss, he now owns an 0-8 record at home with a sky-high 7.04 ERA. The veteran just hasn’t been able to find rhythm in Sacramento, and Friday was no exception.

But if there’s one thing this team doesn’t lack, it’s grit.

Down 7-0, the Athletics found their swing in the sixth inning, sparked by rookie sensation Nick Kurtz. The 22-year-old, already leading MLB rookies with 15 home runs, added to his resume with a two-run bomb to center, his 16th on the season. Just three batters later, Tyler Soderstrom sent another shot to dead center, cutting the deficit to 7-3 and electrifying the home crowd.

Despite that jolt, the momentum hit a wall until the ninth. Down to their final three outs and trailing by four, the A’s dug deep again. Max Muncy, who’d been mired in a mini-slump, jolted one over the center field fence for his ninth home run, trimming the lead to three.

Zack Gelof worked a walk and Denzel Clarke slapped a single to left, putting runners at the corners with one out. A wild pitch from Toronto’s Jeff Hoffman brought home Gelof. Two pitches later, Brent Rooker laced an RBI single to left, scoring Clarke and making it a one-run game. The stadium, now fully alive, was bouncing.

Then came the turning point.

With the tying run at first and two outs, Kurtz, the hero of the sixth, stepped up. But Hoffman, digging deep, got the strikeout he needed. The Sacramento rally ended at the edge of glory.

Still, what had looked like a sleepwalk to the All-Star Break turned into a legitimate thriller. And even in a loss, there were bright spots.

Kurtz continues to play like a future star. His home run was his 11th at Sutter Health Park, and he now leads all rookies not just in homers but also in clutch moments, with seven of his long balls coming in the eighth inning or later.

Soderstrom, too, is heating up. His 17th home run was his fourth in the last eight games, and his improved approach at the plate shows.

The bullpen, a sore spot for much of the year, held its own after Severino’s early exit. Osvaldo Bido, just recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas, threw two solid innings, and the back-end arms kept the game close enough for the offense to make noise.

Defensively, it wasn’t the A’s sharpest outing, with an error contributing to the fifth-inning meltdown. But there were flashes. Denzel Clarke’s work in center was once again stellar, and he continues to justify his spot in the lineup with both glove and bat.

Despite the loss, the Athletics are showing something that’s easy to overlook in a sub-.500 season: resilience. Even after being outscored 7-0 midway through the fifth, they battled back with heart and hustle. And while the comeback fell just short, the buzz around the club, especially its young core, is very real.

As they head into the weekend with two more games against Toronto before the All-Star Break, one thing is clear. The Sacramento A’s aren’t mailing it in. They’re taking their swings, throwing punches, and making every inning count. The standings may not show it, but this team is building something.

Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as his own publication, Golden Bay Times

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.

Bay Area Panthers Game Recap: Panthers Roar to Seventh Straight Jungle victory in Home Finale, 55-54

Published on July 11, 2025July 12, 2025 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Bay Area Panthers quarterback Josh Jones rushes pass Vegas Knight Hawks Bryce Hampton in for the touchdown. Sparking the roaring fans in the Jungle. (Photo credits to Sports Radio Services photographer Antonio Garcia)

By: Michael Villanueva

SAN JOSE–The Bay Area Panthers defended The Jungle one last time this regular season, hosting the Vegas Knight Hawks in an intense and high-energy night at the SAP Center. With sirens flashing and the crowd roaring in support of local heroes, First Responders Night made the Panthers’ last home game of the season memorable.

The Panthers had already secured their postseason journey, entering the game at 10-3. Meanwhile, the Knight Hawks came in with everything on the line — sitting at 8-5, a win would lock them into the playoff picture. Vegas arrived riding a two-game winning streak, while the Bay Area was looking to rebound after a tough 46-38 road loss to the San Diego Strike Force just four days ago — their first defeat since May.

The Bay Area wasted no time setting the tone early. After his 21-yard run earlier in the game, quarterback Josh Jones scrambled in for a 5-yard score on just the fourth play of their opening drive. The Panthers scored first, 6-0, but kicker Axel Perez missed the extra point.

Momentum stayed with the Bay Area immediately after, as they recovered a short squib kickoff and capitalized with another touchdown. This time, Jones connected with Tosin Oyekanmi for a 4-yard score to extend the lead to 14-0 midway through the first quarter.

The defense held strong to cap off the quarter. The Knight Hawks’ offense was shut down on their opening possession, turning the ball over on downs. The Panthers regained possession and were back in control facing a 4th-and-6 as the first quarter came to a close.

Maurice Jackson sacked Josh Jones for a loss of eight yards, which turned the ball over on downs and started the second quarter with a rare Bay Area error. Vegas swiftly seized it. The lead was cut to 14-7 in just two plays as Vegas quarterback Johnson hit CJ Windham Jr. for a 13-yard touchdown.

Josh Jones took matters into his own hands once more on their turn, rushing for a 15-yard score after connecting with Tyrese Chambers for a 15-yard gain. The score was 20–7 after Axel Perez missed his second extra point of the evening. Vegas answered right back. On 4th down, Vegas QB Ja’Rome Johnson launched a 26-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Wimbush, bringing the Knight Hawks back within six after a successful extra point, 20-14.

The Bay Area offensive remained dominant. Jones gave Josh Tomas an 8-yard pass for a first down after opening the next drive with a 6-yard keeper. The Panthers reached the 1-yard line after a 14-yard pass to Tomas, who punched it in for another touchdown. Perez extended the lead to 28-14 by making a perfect drop-kick extra point this time.

However, Vegas continued to fight. The Knight Hawks gained possession of the ball at the 7-yard line after recovering the Panthers’ unsuccessful squib kick. Then Knight Hawks Johnson, cashed in with a short touchdown run, and the extra point was good — pulling Vegas within one score, 28-21.

The Knight Hawks attempted to score again as the half was coming to a close, but an interception in the end zone stopped a drive into the red zone, giving the Bay Area a 28–21 lead at the half inside The Jungle.
With an 18-yard touchdown run by Antonio Wimbush, Vegas started the third quarter with a change in momentum. Vegas took their first lead of the evening, 29-28, after making a perfect two-point deuce on the kickoff, even though the extra point was no good.

Josh Jones was unfazed and quickly recovered with a 10-yard completion before throwing his second touchdown pass of the game to Tosin Oyekanmi, who was 29 yards away. However, Perez missed his third extra point of the evening, another drop-kick, bringing the Panthers’ lead to 34-29.

When Vegas went into the red zone but was stopped on fourth down, the defense once again came through for the Bay Area. As the third quarter came to an end, the Panthers leaned on Josh Tomas to pick up two first downs, including a 9-yard gain in the air, with the ball back on their 7-yard line.

Josh Jones increased the lead with a 20-yard rushing touchdown to start the fourth quarter. The Bay Area led 41-29 after Perez made the extra point.

With the help of a defensive penalty from the Panthers, Vegas launched a determined drive in response, and Ja’Rome Johnson scored from the one-yard line. It was 41-36 after the extra point. On the Bay Area’s next possession, Vegas’ defense came up huge — forcing a turnover on downs deep in Panther territory.

Vegas QB De Laura hit Randolph with a 33-yard touchdown bomb on their opening play. Vegas had a 42-41 lead, but the PAT failed. In the last two minutes, Vegas made a last push. Wimbush brought them to the 1-yard line, and Johnson punched it in. Wimbush brought them to the 1-yard line, and Johnson punched it in, but the two-point attempt was swarmed and stopped, making it 48-47 Vegas snagging the lead.

With 49 seconds left, the Panthers had one last chance. The Panthers have a final opportunity with 49 seconds remaining. Jones dropped back and hit Tyrese Chambers with a dart for a 27-yard game-winning touchdown after they had started at their own 20. The Panthers led 55-48 with 36 seconds left after he followed that up with a successful two-point conversion to Alexander.

Vegas wasn’t done yet. The Knight Hawks made a last-second touchdown pass to Windham Jr. after swiftly pushing the ball downfield. They needed a two-point conversion to win with no time remaining, but the pass was dropped in the end zone. The final score was 55-54 Bay Area Panthers win.

With six touchdowns overall, three through the air and three on the ground, quarterback Josh Jones was the Panthers’ alpha leader throughout the game. He also regularly performed well under pressure. The Bay Area outlasted a determined Vegas team thanks in large part to his poise and dual-threat skill. The Panthers’ regular season isn’t quite done, despite the dramatic way they ended their home schedule.

The Bay Area will now travel for their final two games, first against the Tucson Sugar Skulls on July 19 and then the Massachusetts Pirates on July 25 for the regular-season finale. The Bay Area Panthers are now 11-3 with two more games.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s Luis Severino could be traded

Published on July 11, 2025July 11, 2025 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Ever since Sacramento A’s pitcher Luis Severino said that Major League Baseball shouldn’t be playing in a minor league stadium the A’s have exploring ways of unloading Severino. So far no one seems interested in picking up his $67 million contract. (AP News photo)

A’s Luis Severino could be traded

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

As Luis Severino was signed to a three year deal worth $67 million, the largest in A’s history. Severino is the most outspoken player on the A’s roster this season, primarily complaining about pitching in a minor league park, among other things.

And that shows. His ERA at home is 7.04, while outside of Sacramento, it’s a much more acceptable 3.04. Severino’s contract indicates that it pays him $25 million in 2026 and $22 million in 2027, unless he opts out on that final 2027 season.

If he does, he could be Adiós. Pitching is always tricky to predict, but it is conceivable that Severno could be traded to a team that needs pitching. Since it seems he is not happy in Sacramento, a place like Dodger Stadium could be suitable for him, since Dodgers pitchers have resembled nothing short of a hospital ward.

Since early in the season, the defending World Champs have 14 pitchers on the injured list. Starters like Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki, Blake Snell, and relievers Evan Phillips and ex-A’s Blake Treinen, just to mention a few of the 14 that visited the IL still with all those injuries, the Dodgers are still in first place.

Severino was supposed to give the Oakland A’s (now playing in Sacramento) a veteran presence on the mound for a young pitching staff, but it has not worked that way. The trade deadline is scheduled for July 31 at p.m. ET.

There are a lot of veteran pitchers available who could be moved before this deadline and Luis Severino, who has won with better teams than the A’s is one of them. Record the most traded?

Jesse Chávez is a 38-year-old pitcher (reliever) who has been traded ten times in less than 15 seasons and traded more than any other player in history, including twice traded, so far, this 2025 season. Chávez pitched for the Oakland A’s 2012-2015. By the way, he is a great guy to talk baseball.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame

While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: MLB Robots are here for the All-Star Game!

Published on July 11, 2025July 11, 2025 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

A radar device is seen on the roof behind home plate at PeoplesBank Park in third inning of the Atlantic League All Star Game Wed Jul 10, 2019 as a test for robot umpires (AP News photo)

MLB Robots are here for the All-Star Game!

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

This next Tuesday’s All-Star Game at Atlanta will feature, for the first time, the use of its robot technology for ball-strike challenges. This represents a significant step toward utilizing this technology for the 2026 season and will eventually replace all human umpires in the not-too-distant future.

In 2023, the overall umpire accuracy in calling balls and strikes was 92.8%, according to Statcast data. This marks a slight increase from 92.45% in 2022. In other words, Umpires on average miss a call roughly once every 3.6 plate appearances.

Robots are cheaper than humans: The average salary for a Major League Baseball (MLB) umpire today is approximately $150,000 to $450,000 per year, depending on experience and seniority. It is the most challenging job in baseball; you usually get a lot of abuse from players (but you have the power to expel a player from the field) and, of course, the public, who are usually not kind to umpires. And if a fan gets ‘real nasty in vocabulary,’ umpires have the right to ask for that fan to be removed, also when a fan interferes with the play on the field.

Although robots are knocking on the door in baseball, a famous umpiring school still operates in Florida. The Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School, located in Osmond Beach, provides training for aspiring umpires, featuring both classroom and on-field instruction.

Many of the graduates have gone on to work in Major League Baseball. They will probably go out of business when baseball implements total robotic control on the field of play. I would think humans still would be needed to supervise some of this robotic world of umpires, or perhaps not? Time will tell.

Some of us remember when each league, the American and National Leagues, had their umpires, from their founding (1901 for the AL and earlier for the NL), until 2000, when MLB merged the two leagues into a single, unified roster. During the 2024 regular season, 10.9% of called pitches in the strike zone were ruled balls, and 6.3% of called pitches outside of the strike zone were ruled strikes, according to MLB Statcast.

Major League Baseball is currently testing a challenge system with automated ball-strike calls during spring training, with the potential for regular-season implementation as early as next season (2026) if testing is successful.

This system, known as Automated Ball-Strike (ABS), enables teams to challenge balls and strikes, with the call then reviewed by the automated system. MLB has been experimenting with the automated ball-strike system in the minor leagues since 2019.

Robots are as American as Baseball: Joseph Engelberger was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1925. Joseph Engelberger is widely regarded as the “Father of Robotics.” While he didn’t invent the concept of a robot, he is credited with developing the first industrial robot in the United States, the Unimate, and co-founding Unimation, Inc., the first robotics company.

He collaborated with inventor George Devol, who held the patent for the robotic arm used in the Unimate. ‘ My Take: I am not a fan of robots in baseball, or anyplace else, for that matter, but I also do not like automobiles that drive by themselves, and all this automation we have today, were people go on vacation take two cell phones and a laptop and do not have time to smell the roses. For me, baseball was the most excellent game ever invented, but, as previously mentioned, everything changes, and time goes on. I am not against progress, but just like the famous quote, “sometimes the best trades in baseball are the ones you do not make,” I think of the past and still believe baseball was more enjoyable in the past, with less technology and more humanity. Quote; I never questioned the integrity of an umpire. Their eyesight, yes. – Leo Durocher, Manager.

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Ballers edge Vibes 6-5 with key eighth inning run

Published on July 11, 2025July 11, 2025 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland Ballers celebrate their win over the Rocky Mountain Vibes at Raimondi Park in Oakland on Thu Jul 10, 2025 (Oakland Ballers photo)

Rocky Mountain Vibes (22-22) 121 010 000 5 9 1

Oakland Ballers (34-11) 002 201 01x 6 6 0

Time: 2:18

Attendance: 2,008

Thursday, July 10, 2025

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–After being thwarted late Wednesday afternoon by a lost challenge on what would have been a game ending strike out followed by crushing defeat in the knockout round crap shoot the Pioneer League uses to decide tie games, the Ballers had to wait until 8:53 this Thursday evening to break the tie for first place with a 6-5 triumph over the Rocky Mountain Vibes and— thanks to the Ogden Raptors’ defeat of the Missooula Paddleheads a bit before that— gain not just a playoff spot, but home field advantage against whomever they face in the full season tournament scheduled for early September to determine the league’s champion.

They did it in stirring fashion, overcoming a poor start by Dylan Matsuoka, who surrendered four runs, all earned, in as many innings. Half of the six hits he yielded went yard. The Rocky Mountain Vibes, the team that had stymied the B’s a day earlier, took the lead on a mighty blast over the center field fence by Sam Linscott, the second Vibe batter, tacked on two runs in the second on a two run round tripper by ex-Baller Steven Wilmer (batting .218 at the time), and Gary Lora’s leadoff four bagger in the third.

Oakland got on the board in the third plating two tallies on Tremayne Cobb’s double to right and Christian Almanaza’s opposite field homer to left and tied things up an inning later Nick Leehey’s two run homer to left. The Vibes came back with Carter Booth’s solo shot, a line drive over the left field fence off Gabe Tanner, who had relieved Matsuoka.

The home team caught up in their half of the sixth, notching a run after Danny Harris led off with a single and advanced 90 feet on each of two consecutive balks before Rocky Mountains’ starter, Malik Binns, was able to throw a pitch. Lou Helmig’s opposite field single to left through a partially drawn in infield brought in the tying run. a walk to Nick Leehay, and Binns was on his way to the showers, replaced by Wyatt Tucker.

James Colyer set the Vibes down in order in the seventh.

Oakland finally, and definitively, took the lead in their half of the eighth. Hunter Bryn took the rubber to relieve Tucker at the start of the inning. He walked Harris, who was erased when Cam Bufford’s grounder to third forced Harris out at second. But the speedy Bufford beat the throw to first and then stole second. Another single by Helmig, this time to right, drove in Bufford with what proved to be the winning run.

Carson Lambert, probably the league’s best reliever, didn’t allow a baserunner in the two innings he hurled, fanning five of the six batters he faced on the way to earning his second win against no losses.

Friday’s encounter with the Vibes will start at 6:35. It may be anti-climactic, but you can be sure it’ll be celebratory.

San Francisco Giants podcast Michael Villanueva: Giants hoping to rebound from Phillies thrashing; SF opens series with Dodgers Friday

Published on July 11, 2025 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants Mike Yastrzemski has had success at the plate as he and the Giants prepare to open a three game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers Fri Jul 11, 2025 (AP News file)

San Francisco Giants podcast Michael Villanueva:

#1 Philadelphia Phillies Bryce Harper hit home run and hit for three doubles on Wednesday afternoon as the Phillies upended the San Francisco Giants 13-0 at Oracle Park.

#2 The Phillies Jesus Luzardo struck out seven batters and gave up three hits in seven innings of work as the Giants starter Justin Verlander continues to search for his first win of the season takes the loss.

#3 Verlander now (0-7) at 42 years old pitching in his first season with the Giants had a rough outing his line for the afternoon, four runs (two earned), seven hits, and seven strikeouts, no walks in six innings of work. Verlander who won the Cy Young Award three times just continues to battle to pick up his first win.

#4 The Phils scored an unearned run in the second inning and Harper in the top of the fourth inning crushed his tenth home run to left field as the Phillies poured it on all afternoon.

#5 Friday the Los Angeles Dodgers come to Oracle Park for three games against the Giants. Starting pitcher for the Dodgers RHP Dustin May (5-5 ERA 4.52) for the Giants RHP Logan Webb (8-6, ERA 2.62) first pitch 7:15pm PT.

Join Michael Villanueva for the San Francisco Giants podcast each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com