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San Francisco Giants day off report: Giants Travel to Toronto for Upcoming Series Tuesday

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San Francisco Giants’ Michael Conforto hits a single during the fourth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Park in Milwaukee on Thu May 25, 2023. Conforto leads the Giants in home runs (AP file photo)

Giants Travel to Toronto for Upcoming Series Tuesday

By Barbara Mason

Things for the most part have been going very well for the San Francisco Giants (44-34). Not to long ago the Giants were a number of games under five hundred and they have totally turned that around. They won a series against the San Diego Padres last week and most recently took a series from the division leading Arizona Diamondbacks.

After previous struggles the team is now pulling off come-from-behind wins, they often take early leads; they have an enviable defense not to mention their offense which is cranking on all cylinders. The Giants have moved ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers and look ahead to a series starting this Tuesday with the Blue Jays in Toronto.

Although the Blue Jays are favored, the way this club is playing right now this series could go either way. Toronto’s starting lineup will be a challenge for the Giants with George Springer, Matt Chapman, Cavan Biggio, Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. These guys will keep the San Francisco defense very busy. San Francisco does have some offensive “giants” of their own with Thairo Estrade. J.D. Davis, Luis Matos, Michael Conforto and LaMonte Wade Jr. The team will be without Mike Yastrzemski who is on a 10-day IR with a left hamstring injury.

Starting pitcher for the Giants was undecided at the time of this posting. The Giants Michael Conforto leads the Giants with 12 home runs and a batting average of .285. J.D. Davis has the most RBI’s. Bo Bichette leads the Blue Jays with a .318 batting average and also has 14 homeruns to his credit this season. Toronto will send Kevin Gausman to the mound with a 3.10 ERA and a 7-3 win/loss record.

First pitch for this series on Tuesday is scheduled for 4:07 PM

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Memories of Oakland 1988 No.5 in Series

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Former Oakland A’s outfielder Jose Canseco participates on Juice Night Promotion in Las Vegas had an amazing 1988 season for the A’s (file photo Las Vegas Review Journal)

Memories of Oakland  1988 — — No.5 in Series

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

OAKLAND–1988 was the best-ever season at Oakland that did not produce a World Series title. The Athletics ended the regular season with a 104-58 .642 record, their best since (and to date) since their first season at Oakland in 1968.

Cuban-born slugger José Canseco unanimously won the American League Most Valuable Player, becoming the first ever to steal over 40 bases and hit over 40 home runs (42 home runs and 40 stolen bases), hit for .307 average, and also drove a major league-leading 124 runs. José Canseco was born in Regla, a small fishing town on the other side of Havana harbor.

He came to the United States very young and his Spanish (when I first talked with him) was not good or clear, but he understood more than he speak and has learned since. He was much more tuned in to the American culture than Cuban. During one of my interviews, we spoke about other stuff aside from baseball; he told me his favorite musical group was ‘Foreigner’ a popular American-British rock band.

After he won the Rookie of the Year in 1986, I covered him at the Houston Astrodome for the All-Star Game. I met and spoke to his late father, Jose Canseco Sr., a sales executive in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, for AMOCO Oil Company. As most fathers are, he was a proud papa.

The 1988 World Series matched the AL Champion A’s against the NL Champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers beat the New York Mets in seven games during the NLCS to advance to the Fall Classic. Tommy LaSorda’s team won 94 games during the regular season, but in this World Series, the Oakland A’s were heavy favorites.

One of the many reporters that came to California to cover this series was Manolo Alvarez of WQBA radio in Miami; he was doing interviews, and he asked me if the A’s would sweep the series, I told him that was impossible to predict. However, such was the national sports media concept of the A’s as a much more superior team of that of the Dodgers.

The 1988 World Series began at Dodger Stadium, but Game #1 was the most memorable. The A’s took the lead in the second inning with a blast by José Canseco to straight-away center field, which hit one of the NBC cameras for a home run; it looked like the A’s with their ace Dave Stewart on the mound could do no wrong. Stew pitched eight complete innings and allowed three runs. But the whole story of this classic was settled in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Manager Tony LaRussa brought in Dennis Eckersley to close the game, but a pinch-hit home run by Kirk Gibson, who could not start the game because of injuries, provided for one of the most improbable and iconic moments in World Series history, as Eck threw one slider after another, and at the end, one landed in the right field seats for a walk-off home run and a come-from-behind thrilling victory by the underdog Dodgers by 5-4.

We were talking how “lay back” are Dodger fans, but after than Gibson home run it felt like Dodger Stadium went 1,000 feet up in the air. This World Series went five games, and the Dodgers won it, one of the big upsets in the history of World Series. Oral Hershiser won 2 games and was declared the MVP.

He was celebrating during that decisive game five at the Oakland Coliseum. Previously for game No.3 at the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum, Mark McGwire hit a walk-off home run from reliever Jay Howell and won 2-1.

The only game won by the A’s. 1988 was the first year of the three consecutive trips to the Fall Classic for Tony LaRussa’s Athletics; they would have to wait for next year and during an Earthquake to beat via sweep their Bay Area rival, San Francisco Giants in 1989.

Unfortunately for A’s fans Kirk Gibson is a name that will live in infamy, Gibson is to A’s fans, what Yankee Bucky Dent is to Red Sox fans.

While the A’s still have five years to play in their new ballpark in Las Vegas, which they hope to inaugurate for the 2028 season, José Canseco beat the A’s to Las Vegas. For a few years now, José owns and runs a Car Wash and Mini-Mart a couple of blocks from the strip in Sin City, sometimes he is there to sign autographs and to meet with fans. To read more on the car wash: https://sportsradioservice2013.wordpress.com/tag/jose-canseco/

Diamondbacks Avoid Sweep With 5-2 Victory Over The Giants

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San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey catches a ball hit by Arizona Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte during the sixth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Jun 25, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Troy Ewers

SAN FRANCISCO, CA– With a crowd of 35,766 fans on this beautiful Sunday afternoon, the first place in the NL West Arizona Diamondbacks got a win to avoid a sweep in this three game series against the second place San Francisco Giants on Sunday 5-2.

The two men on the mound Ryan Nelson of Arizona and Anthony DeSclafani of San Francisco faced off and the Diamondbacks got on DeSclafani early. In the first inning Christian Walker extended his hitting streak to ten games with an RBI double that scored Ketel Marte making it 1-0 for Arizona.

The second inning was no different for DeSclafani as a Jake McCarthy single would score Alek Thomas, but the inning would end right after that with DeSclafani picking off McCarthy at first, but the damage was done, 2-0 D-Backs.

The next three innings the pitchers kept the bats quiet, but in the sixth inning the Giants woke up and finally got on the board with a J.D. Davis single that scored Thairo Estrada making the game 2-1. This had the Giants fans ready for the comeback victory, but in the eighth inning Ketel Marte hit a two run home run off Tristan Beck and that was the insurance Arizona needed to take it home.

JD Davis hit another single that scored Estrada to make it 4-2, but the damage was done, especially after a baserunning mistake by Blake Sabol that stopped the rally dead in its tracks. In the ninth Perdamo hit a single to score Longoria and insure a victory, but the Giants didn’t go out quietly.

A Matos single and long Slater at bat which included two deep foul balls and ended in a walk, would ignite the crowd into a roar to hopefully lead their Giants to victory, but Estrada grounded into a fielder’s choice and the game was over.

With the win for Arizona and they secure 2.5 games above the Giants in the NL West. Not all negatives to look at for the Giants coming out of the game, they finish the homestand with a 5-2 record.

The Giants have an off day Monday, but after that go into a three game series against the Toronto Blue Jays (pitchers not yet announced) on Tuesday, who beat the Oakland A’s today 12-1 and the Giants look to have a different fate than their counterparts across the bridge.

San Jose Sharks podcast with Troy Ewers: Sharks Karlsson will be hard to move due to big contract

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San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) works for the puck against Dallas Stars center Tyler Seguin (91) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, Karlsson makes over $11 million a season and most NHL teams won’t consider taking on a contract of that size. (AP News photo)

On the San Jose Sharks podcast with Troy:

#1 How amazing would it be for the San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson to win the Norris Award for the third time in career.

#2 One of the toughest things about the Sharks looking to trade Karlsson is his contract Karlsson after four years with the Sharks is the highest paid defenseman in the NHL.

#3 Karlsson who gets a $11.5 million contract makes it tough to move him and considering the Sharks haven’t raised the salary cap in since 2019 and the cap has gone up only to $2 million up to $83.5 million.

#4 Friday was a big day for Patrick Marleau after four months out from retiring his jersey. Marleau now takes the role of player development coach and hockey operations advisor. Marleau 43 is the NHL leader in games played. The Sharks have not made post season since 2019 could Marleau be the answer to help them get there?

#5 Troy talk about one of the key things that head coach David Quinn would like to see out of this off season for improvements on the team.

Troy Ewers is a San Jose Sharks beat reporter for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland Manhandled By Toronto 12-1

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Oakland Athletics second baseman Jace Peterson (6) throws to first base to put out Toronto Blue Jays’ George Springer after forcing out Jays’ Tyler Heineman (55) during the second inning at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Sun Jun 25, 2023 (AP News photo)

Oakland Manhandled By Toronto 12-1

By Barbara Mason

Sunday afternoon the Oakland A’s (20-60) were looking to win game three in their series with the Toronto Blue Jays 43-36) no such luck as the A’s were whipped 12-1 by the Jays at Rogers Centre in Toronto. The A’s won only one game on the six game road trip.

This game went sideways from the first inning. George Springer hit his 55th career leadoff home run and the Blue Jays were just warming up scoring two runs in the first. By the time the sixth inning roiled around, Toronto had built a 4-0 lead.

The A’s did get on the scoreboard for their lone score in the sixth. Tony Kemp hit a solo home run and that would be it for Oakland. They only had three hits in this lopsided game.

The Blue Jays were leading 7-1 going into the eighth inning. That inning proved to be their most lucrative of the game scoring five runs for the 12-1 final score. Toronto was hitting lights out and they were certainly helped along the way with all the walks that Medina was throwing their way.

Toronto pitcher Yusei Kikuchi stayed in the game for a season-high seven innings. Things did not go so well for Oakland with Luis Medina on the mound allowing four runs, three earned and 4 hits in five innings.

He walked seven batters which was a career -worst. His command was terrible today. In four May games he walked a total of seven so today was an absolute nightmare for him. He was relieved by Ken Waldichuk who did not fare much better allowing 6 hits and six runs in 2.1 innings.

There was not a whole of positives that we can draw from this game. It is one of those games you just want to put behind you.

The A’s will head home for yet another difficult series against the New York Yankees. Game one will be played at the Coliseum on Tuesday night. Paul Blackburn will take the mound for Oakland with a 0-0, 4.21 ERA. The Oakland offense will face Jhony Brito (4-3 ERA 4.89) who will get the nod for New York.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Giants aim to sweep Diamondbacks concluding series at Oracle Park today

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San Francisco Giants’ Luis Matos (29) is tagged out by Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker (53) on a pick off during the fourth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Jun 25, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the Giants podcast with Marko:

#1 Giants have won 12 out of their last 13 games on a roll and have secured their fourth consecutive series and can pick up their fourth sweep in their last six series.

#2 This team is rolling their 12 wins out of their last 13 games during the Jun 11-24 stretch is tied for their San Francisco best in a 13 game stretch.

#3 The Giants now have the second best winning percentage in baseball behind the Atlanta Braves who are 16-4 .800. The Giants have come back from early deficits winning sic of their last eight games.

#4 The Giants do have a compiled injury list of pitcher Scott Alexander, pitcher John Breddia, pitcher Alex Cobb, infielder Wilmer Flores, outfielder Mitch Haniger, outfielder Mike Yastrzemski, pitcher Luke Jackson and Wade LaMonte Jr.

#5 Giants conclude this three game series with the Diamondbacks and the Diamondbacks are starting Ryne Nelson (3-4 ERA 5.31) and for the Giants Anthony DeSclafani 4-6 ERA 4.38) a 1:05 pm PT first pitch.

Join Marko for the Giants podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB The Show podcast with Charlie O: MLB hoping to make big European market in roads for London series this weekend; plus much more news

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Chicago Cubs’ Seiya Suzuki practices during a training session ahead of the baseball match against St. Louis Cardinals at the MLB World Tour London Series, in London Stadium on Fri Jun 22, 2023. (AP News photo)

MLB The Show podcast with Charlie O:

#1 The London Series is underway with the Chicago Cubs and the St Louis Cardinals matching up this weekend. It’s got to be an important series with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred in attendance as he’s trying to boost the MLB brand in Europe.

#2 The Tampa Bay Rays Wander Franco who has expressed frustration by breaking a bat in the Rays dugout and not running out ground balls was sent home on Thursday night and benched on Friday night was back in the line up on Saturday and admitted that the organization is trying to get control of his frustrations and he admitted making errors that got away from him. Franco is hitting .287 and is in the second season of his $182 million contract.

#3 Charlie what can you say about the Cincinnati Reds that hasn’t already been said. The Red Legs are on a 12 game win streak and Elly De La Cruz’s cycle on Friday night added to the success the club has been having. The Reds are in first in the NL Central by 1.5 games on second place the Milwaukee Brewers.

#4 The Los Angeles Angels enhanced their infield up the middle acquiring Eduardo Escobar from the New York Mets for pitchers Coleman Crow and Landon Marceaux, who were 19 and 20th in the Angels system. Escobar’s $9 million contact will be picked up by the Mets at the pro rated MLB minimum. 2024 is an option year for Escobar.

#5 MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred who is attending the London Series this weekend as we spoke about earlier said that one big turnout for the Oakland A’s on Tue Jun 23 at the Oakland Coliseum doesn’t solve a “decade of inaction” referring to the fans reverse boycott and is waiting for the A’s to submit their relocation application in preparation for an owners vote that requires a 75% yes vote. Eight no votes can turn the tide for the A’s moving to Vegas.

Join Charlie O for the MLB podcasts Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Matos, Bailey, and Schmitt rookies who have changed the clubhouse

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San Francisco Giants’ Luis Matos gestures after hitting a two-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the sixth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Jun 25, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen:

The San Francisco Giants who had a ten game winning streak had it come to an end on Thursday by getting clobbered 10-0 but came right back on Friday and Saturday with win over the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Giants have now won 12 out of their last 13 games.

In the two games on the Giants played those games very well and the Giants ended up on top and it shows and it showed the Giants have what it takes to compete with the best teams in baseball.

As far as pitching is concerned the Giants could very well have the best eighth and ninth inning pitching staff in baseball with relievers Tyler Rogers and Comilo Doval. Rogers throwing the submarine pitch and then there’s Doval with his 100 MPH cutter no better combo than that.

Everyone knows since the Giants have called up Casey Schmitt, Patrick Bailey and Luis Motas and they’ve really solved the chemistry in the clubhouse and a lot of times you could tell in spring training on how things are going to go by the mood of the clubhouse.

Join Stephen Ruderman for the MLB podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland Roots Draw Phoenix Rising 1-1

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Johnny Rodriguez beating his opponent off the dribble Photo from Oakland Roots Instagram

By Tony Ewers

In the rivalry game between Oakland and Phoenix, it was a game that was a battle all the way to the final minute where both teams scored their goals in the final ten minutes. It started with both teams having scoring attempts in the first ten minutes, but neither seeing the back of the net as the Roots and Rising Sun play to a 1-1 draw.

Possession was equal 50% as they traded shot attempts through 30 minutes of action. At that point the game saw nothing, but fouls for 10 minutes and from there the back and forth was like that for the remainder of the half with no actual moment where it looked either team had the upper hand.

The second half went more in a defensive direction for the Roots, but in the 82nd minute Dariusz Formella would hit a shot off the right foot in the goal, 1-0 Oakland! The defensive direction of the Roots was working, the Phoenix Rising missed six shots except one.

In the 93rd minute, a header from Manuel Arteaga in the box went past Paul Blanchett and it was the equalizer that sealed this draw for Oakland. This would be the Roots third draw in a row and Coach Delgado says “We’ve been leading in two of those games. Moments of the game, especially when we begin to close out the season – learning how to close out games, starting out well, that’s important.”

This Formella’s sixth goal of the season and second against Phoenix this season and he’s the top goal scorer for the Roots at the moment. The next game for Oakland is next week against Rio Grande Valley Toros and this their second time facing each other.

That game was also a draw, but Oakland needs a win, because the season is moving fast and each team has to kick it in higher gear to secure top spots in the table.

Earthquakes lose hard fought match against St. Louis 2-1

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Photo courtesy of San Jose Earthquakes.

By Titus Wilkinson (@TitusWisme)

SAN JOSE- At home the Earthquakes came up just short against St. Louis despite leading in many metrics losing by a final of 2-1.

For the Earthquakes Daniel de Sousa Brito was in goal while for St. Louis Roman Bürki was in net.

San Jose came out with a little bit of a different formation today starting in a 4-2-3-1 while St. Louis was in a 4-1-2-1-2.

The first attempt of this match came at the 11 minute mark as Aziel Jackson forced Brito to make a save early.

After that San Jose would rally back with two attempts of their own one from Jamiro Monteiro and the other from Jeremy Ebobisse but both were saved.

At the 30 minute mark Jackson would get his second attempt on net of the first half but once again Brito was up to the challenge.

Then at the 40 minute mark St. Louis was awarded a corner that was conceded by Daniel which lead to Rasmus Alm taking the corner. It was a good one as he got it right to Samuel Adeniran who headed it in making it 1-0.

San Jose was not able to formulate a response in the first half but early on in the second they would do just that. The goal came due to sloppy work by St. Louis on their side of the field. That turnover lead to Jackson Yueill taking the ball and giving it to Ebobisse who tapped it smoothly over to Jamiro Monteiro and with a right footed shot it was tied up again 1-1.

Though Monteiro apparently showed a little to much jubilation after the goal as he was handed a yellow for excessive celebration.

That happiness was short-lived for San Jose as at the 55 minute mark as Jonathan Mensah was called for a foul in the penalty area on none other than Jackson. Taking the penalty would be Adeniran who made not mistake depositing the ball in the back of the net giving St. Louis the lead right back 2-1.

Jackson was also given a yellow only a minute after his goal but that was for a bad foul.

Towards the end of the match the Earthquakes made a real push to tie the game back up as both Carlos Akapo and Cristian Espinoza had good looks.

San Jose was given an additional nine minutes of extra time but both attempts from Rodrigues and Tommy Thompson were saved as St. Louis held on to win.

As previously mentioned the stats in this match favored San Jose in many areas as possession was in their favor at 62.9% to 37.1%. Shots also were in their favor at 14-9 and they managed to nine of those on target.

San Jose’s next game will be the Cali Clasico against LA Galaxy on Saturday July 1st at 7:30 p.m.