Sacramento Kings game wrap: Kings Beat Denver 119-114 Proving That Playoff Contention A Possibility

The Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) tries to distract the Sacramento Kings center Richaun Holmes who takes a shot during Sat Feb 6, 2021’s game at Golden One Center in Sacramento (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Friday night the Sacramento Kings took on the Denver Nuggets in a game that proved a lot more than previously thought about this team. The Kings were able to sneak one past the sixth place Nuggets 119-114 in a game that was hard fought from beginning to end.

Denver’s Nikola Jokic had a career high 50 points but it was not enough to deter the Kings as Sacramento celebrated a season sweep. Nikola had help from team mates Barton (11 points), Millsap (14 points), and Morris (11 points) but the Kings stubbornly hung in this game from the tipoff.

While the Nuggets starters were able to muster some real energy the Kings outplayed them with some great’ play by Harrison Barnes who scored 28 points and 7 rebounds which overshadowed the 50 point game that Jokic turned in. Barnes had a great supporting cast thanks to the play of De’Aaron Fox who had 24 points and Richaun Holmes with 21 points.

Coming off the bench Tyrese Haliburton had 23 points proving that the Iowa State phenomenon is going to be one of the strengths of this team. He really came up clutch in the fourth quarter of this game. We have seen this from day one and he is just getting started. We will be seeing a lot from this guy who looked so promising as the season got underway and he has not disappointed. At every turn Haliburton is getting high praise some of that praise coming from former Kings coach Michael Malone. In fact he did say that Haliburton “kicked our ass every time we’ve played him.”

The Kings have an 11-11 record at the present and with more games like the one we saw tonight they will no doubt make their presence knows as the season moves forward. They are on their way to proving that they could possibly be playoff contenders.

Tomorrow the Kings will be playing the Clippers. The Clippers Paul George will remain out in this game which is disappointing news for Los Angeles. Tipoff is at 12:00 as LA will try to hold off the surging Kings.

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Krush for Elvis-A Trade of Convenience-

Former Texas Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus throws the ball in this Mar 11, 2020 photo as Andrus heads to the Oakland A’s as the A’s were looking for a shortstop (AP News photo)

Krush for Elvis-A Trade of Convenience-

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–The Oakland Athletics do not have to look anymore for an everyday shortstop, after Marcus Semien left for Toronto. Today, the A’s and the Rangers made an interesting trade. The A’s traded Khris Davis DH/outfielder to the Texas Rangers for shortstop Elvis Andrus and catcher Aramis García, who played for the Giants last year. In the deal the A’s also send young catcher Jonah Heim as well as minor league right-handed pitcher Dave Acker to the Rangers.

Elvis Andrus began his 12 year career with the Rangers in 2009 and he showed how good he was going to be when he visited the Oakland Coliseum during his very first trip. Last season he hit .197 with three home runs and seven runs batted in a total of 27 games. However, he is a career .274 hitter with 1,628 games played at shortstop, most by a shortstop in Major League Baseball since that debut during a night game at Oakland.

Khris “Krush” Davis hit only .200 with 2 home runs and ten runs batted in 30 games last season. He was a very productive slugger specially during a three-year period with the A’s from 2016 to 2018 when he hit over 40 home runs and 100 runs batted-in or more each season.

The proverbial trade of convenience, because both players needed a change of scenery, both had down years in 2020 but if they can regain some of their productivity at the plate, it could benefit both ball-clubs as well as prolong their careers. Elvis Andrus has been a solid defensive shortstop and a very productive hitter, with excellent speed running the bases.

When I first saw Elvis Andrus during the first game he ever played at the Coliseum he showed tremendous defensive skills and as a hitter not an easy out, top-of-the-order hitter with good speed.

I remember at that time (first time we saw him play) we spoke highly of him during our Spanish broadcast of the Atléticos Radio Network. In 2019 and 2020 Khris Davis lost his confidence after the A’s signed him for a two year deal.

Krush gave A’s fans a lot of thrills, the young man of an African-American father and Mexican mother is a good guy, decent man but his swing was just not there. A’s players got along well with Krush and we wish him nothing but the best in Texas, a ballpark much more friendlier for his home-run swing than the Oakland Coliseum.

Andrus was tutored back in his early years by Omar Vizquel, one of the greatest defensive shortstops in history. Andrus as well as Vizquel both from Venezuela, the land of shortstops and Elvis Andrus always will be grateful to his compatriot.

Some of the other shortstops from Venezuela: Chico Carrasquel, Luis Aparicio (Hall of Fame), David Concepción, Omar Vizquel, Ozzie Guillén, Carlos Guillén, Alcides Escobar, Alex González, César Izturis, Eugenio Sánchez, Gleyber Torres. It is my opinion that Dave Concepción as well as Omar Vizquel should join Luis Aparicio someday in the Hall of Fame at Cooperstown.

Stay well and stay tuned.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play talent for the Oakland A’s Spanish flagship station 1010 KIQI LeGrande San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Barracuda finally open up in San Jose; Can Cuda withstand 3 players leaving for Sharks

The Tucson Barracuda and San Jose Barracuda who canceled their pre season game on Friday will face off in San Jose SAP Center on Sun Feb 7, 2021 for the Barracuda’s first home opener (sjbarracuda.com photo)

On the San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko:

#1 The San Jose Sharks the San Jose Barracuda parent club has recalled three Barracuda players, first forwards to come up to the Sharks Rudolf Balcers, Maxim Letunov, and defenceman Fredrik Claesson on Thursday.  Will their departure put a hole in the Barracuda line up?

#2 The Barracuda schedule has been switched around the Barracuda were supposed to play their last pre season game on Fri Feb 5th against the Tucson Roadrunners at SAP Center but that game was postponed. The next game Sat 6th was moved to Sun Feb 7th for an 11am face off and will be the home opener and Mon 8th will conclude the brief two game series with Tucson for a 6:00pm face off.

#3 The Barracuda stated that these changes were made out of an abundance of caution due to a player coming up positive for Covid-19 last Sat Jan 30th in Las Vegas against the Henderson Silver Knights. In the third period officials were notified of the positive test and stopped the game and had both teams return to the dressing rooms and the game was postponed per AHL Covid-19 protocols.

#4 The Barracuda (2-3) lost their last game 7-3 to the Silver Knights in Las Vegas Fri Jan 29th at the Orleans Arena. One thing the Barracuda had time to work on during these days of postponed games was trying to work on avoiding the five goal second period they had endured in that last game.

#5 Long rest ready to get back to work, the Barracuda had Friday off and will have their home opener Sunday this morning for their first home opener. For the Barracuda they have to be happy to be back in San Jose.

Join Marko for Barracuda podcasts each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic Sat Feb 6, 2021 by Sports Radio Service | Free Listening on SoundCloud

 

NHL podcast with Matt Harrington: NHL games continued to be postponed due to Covid; Ovechkin moves into 7th on all time goal scoring list

The Washington Capitals Alexander Ovechkin moved past Mike Gartner on the all time NHL goal scoring list to seventh place on Thursday (file photo from hotsr.com)

On the NHL podcast with Matt:

#1 Taking a look at some of the postponements in the NHL. The Minnesota Wild have shut down facilities and games due to Coronavirus concerns. Six players are on the NHL Covid-19 protocol list for the next four games and the Wild have their next four games postponed.

#2 Matt a total of 22 NHL games have now been postponed spanning 16 of the 24 NHL teams stateside. If the NHL wanted to get this season going without a hitch wouldn’t have been much safer with at least four bubble cities in Canada with no US travel to make this work or four bubbles in Arizona and Florida to make it work?

#3 The Arizona Coyotes and St Louis Blues will play their series at Enterprise Arena in St Louis on Sunday and Monday after a number of NHL games have been postponed. Arizona was supposed to have played the Wild on Saturday and Sunday and the Blues were suppose to play the Colorado Avalanche this weekend. The Avalanche postponed their games with the Blues because of Covid-19 protocols and the Aves have now postponed four games. The Aves and Wild’s games have been postponed through Feb 11th.

#4 Matt talk about the achievement of the Washington Capitals Alex Ovechkin who scored on the New York Rangers on Thursday to move past Mike Gartner into seventh place on the all time goal scorers list.

#5 The San Jose Sharks were supposed to open their home season in Glendale but that was canceled when their opponents the Las Vegas Golden Knights had Covid-19 protocol issues. The Sharks have not played on game in San Jose yet but are scheduled to be there for their first home opener on Sat 13th.

Join Matt Harrington each Saturday night for the NHL podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Podcast with Matt Harrington Sat Feb 6, 2021 by Sports Radio Service | Free Listening on SoundCloud

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Trevor Bauer to the Dodgers – A Rolls Royce Rotation-

Former Cincinnati Reds pitcher Trevor Bauer will joining the Los Angeles Dodgers to the tune of $102 million for a three year deal. Here is the former Reds pitcher jubilant after striking out Milwaukee Brewers hitter Christian Yelich on Sep 23, 2020 in Cincinnati (AP News file photo)

Trevor Bauer to the Dodgers – A Rolls Royce Rotation-

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Trevor Bauer, the Cy Young Award winner last year in the National League with the Cincinnati Reds is signing a $102 million 3-year contract with the World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Bauer is slated to make $40 million this season, $45 million in 2022 and $17 million in 2023, with an opt-out in season’s one and two.

The New York Mets were the front-runners to acquire the Southern California native and free agent, until Bauer himself (a social media junkie) announced the news himself on YouTube. With this contract, he is the player in MLB with the biggest salary this 2021 and 2022 season.

Trevor Bauer is now joining a rotation with Clayton Kershaw, Walter Buehler, David Price and Dustin May, three of those are Cy Young winners. Since he (Bauer) has said he wants to start every fourth day, young and very talented Julio Urias would be their fifth starter, only if the Dodgers agree to go with a five-man rotation. This makes the LA Dodgers a Rolls Royce Rotation in baseball after acquiring the biggest Free Agent in the market.

During the abbreviated 2020 season of 60 games, Trevor Bauer ended with a record of 5-4 and 1.73 in 11 games he started, struck-out 100 and walked 17 all in a total of 73 innings of work. Those numbers won him the National League Cy Young.

The 30-year old Bauer is a self promoter, controversial because he seems to live his life on social media, as previously mentioned, he announced this mega deal himself over a YouTube video. His career numbers: In nine years, 75-64, 3.90 ERA, 1,189 innings pitched, 1,270 strike-outs and 454 bases on balls. Bauer pitched in 205 games and started 195.

Born in North Hollywood, California, he has previously said he would love to pitch in Southern California. It was rumored that the Los Angeles Angels was the perfect fit for him, because that team is in serious need of starting pitching.

The New York Mets were in the running for him until today, and it was reported the Mets gave Bauer a 12 noon deadline to make a decision. That deadline passed in New York, and then he announced that he will be wearing Dodger Blue.

Even before the Dodgers signed Trevor Bauer and with the busy winter of their rivals San Diego Padres, the Dodgers were the favorites to win the World Series for the second year in a row. This makes them even more of a favorite.

Trevor Bauer who in 2020 won the National League Cy Young with the Cincinnati Reds is the second pitcher in history to join a World Series Champion team right after winning that award. Roger Clemens who won the 1998 Cy Young pitching for the Toronto Blue Jays, joined the World Champion New York Yankees the next year in 1999.

The first two years of the three-year deal for the right-handed pitcher with the Dodgers totals $85 million, that is $20 million more that the total payroll currently (the whole team) prior to the 2021 season of the Oakland Athletics, and also higher than another half dozen teams in Major League Baseball.

Great Rotations: Only two teams in history had a rotation of four (4) 20-game winners in a season. The 1920 Chicago White Sox; Red Faber, Lefty Williams, Eddie Cicotte and Dickie Kerr and the one some of us remember, the 1971 Baltimore Orioles; Jim Palmer, Dave McNally, Miguel (Mike) Cuellar and Pat Dobson. Because today’s pitching is not structured for starters to go all the way, it’s very close to a certainty we will never see this again.

Stay well and stay tuned.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play announcer for the Oakland A’s Spanish radio flagship 1010 KIQI Le Grande San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Stanford Cardinal game wrap: Big night from da Silva sparks Cardinal to victory over the Bears 70-55

Stanford Cardinal Oscar da Silva (13) takes it to the hoop against the Cal Bears defense at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley on Thu Feb 4, 2021 (photo from San Francisco Chronicle)

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Tuesday, February 2, 2021

Oscar da Silva’s all-around effort sparked Stanford to a 70-55 Pac-12 men’s basketball victory over archrival California Thursday night at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley.

Da Silva led the Cardinal with 24 points (8 of 17 field goals, 8 of 8 free throws), 11 rebounds, four assists, a blocked shot and two steals.

Jaiden Delaire was next for the Cardinal with 14 points, hitting 5 of 7 from the field, including a pair of 3-pointers. Noah Taitz scored 10 points off the bench.

Stanford (11-7 overall, 7-5 Pac-12) outscored the Golden Bears 40-22 in the paint, and held a 30-28 rebounding edge.

Spencer Jones and Michael O’Connell each had four assists, and Lukas Kisunas pulled down seven rebounds. Jones also had three steals, as the Cardinal scored 19 points off of Cal’s 16 turnovers.

Matt Bradley paced the Golden Bears (7-13, 2-11) with 24 points, followed by Andre Kelly with 15 points and seven rebounds. Both players fouled out.

Bradley sank his fifth 3-pointer, was fouled, and converted the four-point play as Cal cut the Cardinal’s lead to 46-43 with a six-minute 14-4 run to open the second half. Taitz and da Silva hit back-to-back baskets to stop the run and Stanford went on to re-establish its double-digit lead within the next three minutes.

Stanford played without starters Ziaire Williams, Bryce Wills and Daejon Davis for the second straight game, all of them out due to COVID-19 protocol.

Stanford will host the Golden Bears at Maples Pavilion on Sunday, with a 7 p.m. tipoff.

Warriors romp in win over Mavericks 147-116; Oubre Jr is lights out with 40 pts

The Golden State Warriors Kelly Oubre Jr connects a three point shot against the Dallas Mavericks on Thu Feb 4, 2021 in Dallas (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg 

The Golden State Warriors opened a four-game road trip in Dallas Thursday night. The Warriors had nine players available after the team announced that Eric Paschall could not play due to his knee injury. The Warriors did not have a player taller than six-foot-seven inches.

The Maverick’s lineup featured Kristaps Porzingis at seven-feet-three inches tall, two players at 6-10, Maxi Kleber, and Dwight Powell. Luka Doncic was taller than any Warrior on the floor.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr had to figure out how his team could compete with the bigger Maverick team. He inserted Juan Toscano-Anderson at the center position. He knew his team would have to find a way to outrun the Mavericks and find a way to win. The Warriors, all nine of them, played the game as planned. They outran, outhustled, outshot, and blew away the bigger Mavericks to win 147-116.

It was a fast and furious first half of basketball. Steph Curry and Kelly Oubre paced the Warrior attack in the first quarter. Curry had 13, and Kelly eight. The team connected on six threes to lead 36-34.

The Mavericks won the second quarter 42-38 to finish the first half with a narrow two-point lead 76-74.  Oubre led the Warriors with 22 points. It was the most points ever scored by Oubre in any half of basketball in his career. Curry was second with 20.

The Warriors connected on eleven three in 25 tries. The Mavericks Luka Doncic recorded 23 points and connected on three threes. Porzingis had eight, Tim Hardaway, Jr, had 14 points and knocked down four threes. Jalen Brunson, coming off the bench, had 17 points, and he, too, had three threes.

The third quarter belonged to the Warriors. They ran the court, found the open man, and made shots. Oubre continued to excel on both ends of the court.  Curry worked his magic to put points on the board.

The Mavericks kept pace with the Warriors as they trailed 95-93. The Warriors put together a 15-2 run near the end of the quarter to lead 110-95. The Warriors outscored Dallas 36-20 to finish the quarter leading by fourteen 110-96.

The Warriors, as usual, started the fourth quarter with Curry and Draymond Green on the bench. The second unit, led by Oubre and Andrew Wiggins, continued the Warrior onslaught. Backup guards Damion Lee and Mychal Mulder knocked down several threes. They outscored the Mavs 37-20 to win 147-116.

Game Notes and Stats: With the win, the Warriors are 12-10 for the year. The Mavs are 1-7 in their last eight games and are 9-14 for the year. 

Oubre had his best game of the year as a Warrior. He finished with a career-high 40 points. Oubre had eight rebounds, two assists and was 14 for 21 from the floor. He connected on seven threes in ten tries.

The Warriors had seven of the nine available players in double-figures. Curry finished the night with 28 points, three rebounds, six assists, and he made four threes. Andrew Wiggins had 18. Juan Toscano-Anderson tallied 14 points, eight rebounds, five assists to go along with two threes.

 Green had his best game of the year. Green also had a double-double. He knocked down eleven points, had six boards and fifteen assists. Damion Lee made four three to finish with 17. Mychal Mulder connected on two three and ended the night with 12.

The Warriors shot 57.3% from the floor. They made 22 threes in 43 tries. They outrebounded the bigger Mavs 54-45, and they recorded 37 assists on 51 buckets. They ran the court, made threes, and played well on defense as they held the Mavericks to 40 points in the second half. 

Luka Doncis led the Mavs with 27 points. The Warriors held him to four points in the second half. Porzingis finished with 25. The big Russian made five threes. Tim Hardaway, Jr had 19, and Jalen Brunson knocked down 18.

The Warriors will play the Mavericks again Saturday night at the American Airlines Arena in Dallas. Game tip will start at 5:30 pm.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: A Spring Dream

MLB Spring Training logos for Cactus League and the Grapefruit Leagues 2021 (from SportsLogos.net)

A Spring Dream

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

I had a wonderful vivid dream last night. I was at a ballpark in Spring Training a sensationally sunny and spectacular day with perfect weather watching a baseball game, walking among fans, talking to the fans (like I usually do) taking it ‘all in’. One of those dreams, even when I woke up I tried to go back, closed my eyes and see if I could squeeze it a little more…I just didn’t wanted to wake up.

For anybody that loves baseball this is the time of the year when you think about baseball, around Super Bowl time, what is basically a mark for all baseball fans that this is the last big important event in sports, before the doors open to pitchers and catchers and teams go to their camps to start the long journey of another summer.

You become enamored with this time of the year if you are truly a lifelong baseball fan and specially in Spring Training where a hot dog and a cold drink tastes better that anything in the world.

Because it is baseball and time doesn’t matter, but memories do, because they stay with you. For years I have visited various Spring Training camps, did work, got my credentials, media notes, some interview with players, would stay inside the press box, for a few innings, and then mingle with the fans, talking baseball, take in the whole experience, feel blessed and lucky to do something that I enjoy, can report and it is part of my job.

Just remembering what I was dreaming last night makes me happy, like a 5 year old kid opening a Christmas present December the 25th and to think some people can afford a Napa restaurant where an appetizer that you can’t even see in your plate is $100 but there is no way you can get more pleasure than eating a hot dog under the sun and drinking an ice-cold beer. Arizona baseball during Spring.

Then reality hits me. Wait a minute; soon the baseball parks in major league cities this year, their “attendance” will have thousands of people standing 6-feet apart waiting to get to a table, with medical people to inject you with a vaccine, for something that came from hell, to disrupt all of our lives.

Truth-be-said, for the majority of these people that would be the only time they visit their local baseball park this year, because, after all most people are not baseball fans. Many said “good riddance” to 2020 and announced 2021 was going to be a much better year, really?

So far this year is the continuation of a flight that has not stopped its turbulence since it took off and still doesn’t know when it will land. I am an optimist by nature, but I also have my feet planted on the ground. If you were born and raised loving the game of baseball it becomes inescapable for the rest of your life, especially during Spring.

Keep dreaming, not only is free but it is fun. One writer, also a poet that I always admired is Edgar Allan Poe, a great writer that went into the mysterious type of stuff. This is, for me, one of his best quotes: “All that we see or seen is but a dream within a dream”.

Stay well and stay tuned.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the MLB Hispanic Heritage Museum Hall of Fame and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Super Bowl LV podcast with Jessica Kwong: Mahomes focusing on winning a second Super Bowl; Do Bucs have the home field advantage?

Flashback Sun Feb 2, 2020 Miami Gardens Super Bowl 54 and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Pat Mahomes hoisting the Super Bowl Trophy after defeating the San Francisco 49ers. Mahomes is shooting for his second Super Bowl victory this Sun Feb 7, 2021 in Tampa Bay (AP News file photo)

Super Bowl LV podcast with Jessica:

#1 Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Pat Mahomes says that he’s not focusing on Tom Brady’s record of ten Super Bowl appearances and six Super Bowl championships but just a chance to win his second Super Bowl.

#2 Mahomes said that every time he hits the field his mindset is on winning the game and the goal is to win as many Super Bowls as possible.

#3 From the looks of it that has been Brady’s accomplished goal and for Mahomes he’s been staying very consistent with the kind of games that he’s been having as the Chiefs finished the regular season with a 15-2 record and first in the AFC Conference.

#4 Jessica this will be the first time that a Super Bowl team will play host on their home field. The closest that ever came was when the San Francisco 49ers played the Miami Dolphins in 1985 and the game was at Stanford Stadium but not quite the home stadium. This has to be pretty special for the Buccaneers to host this game.

#5 Practice has looked well for both teams as the prepare for Super Bowl Sunday. The Vegas line has the Chiefs by three in what is expected to be a razor close game.

Jessica will be back for Headline Sports heard every other Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Super Bowl LV podcast with Jessica Kwong Thu Feb 4, 2021 by Sports Radio Service | Free Listening on SoundCloud

Stanford Cardinal podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Stanford gets ready for Big Game tonight at Cal

Stanford Cardinal forward Jaiden Delaire takes a shot against the USC Trojans on Tue Feb 2, 2021 at Maples Pavilion in Palo Alto (gostanford.com image)

Stanford podcast with Jerry F:

#1 The Stanford Cardinal (10-6) were coming off three win in Tuesday night’s make up game in Santa Cruz and were trying for a third but the USC Trojans (13-3) who have been taking no prisoners all season dominated the Cardinal 72-66 to the Cardinal winning streak.

#2 It seemed like every time the Cardinal turned around on defense the Trojan’s Evan Mobley had the basketball and the Cardinal had a hard time stopping him with Mobley scoring as leading scorer with 23.

#3 The Cardinal had those past games where there were some very close games namely the win over UCLA something had to tell Cardinal head coach Jerod Haase that the Trojans were studying film because they led in both the first and second halves against the Cardinal.

#4 There is no doubt the Cardinal had enough talent to win the game against the Trojans they had both Jaiden Delaire with 22 points and Michael O’Connell 20 points finishing in double figures but the Cardinal are also missing some players to injuries and Oscar da Silva scored only nine points.

#5. The Cardinal take on the Cal Bears (7-12) at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley tonight. Cal has lost two straight games and are in last place in the Pac 12. They did however beat USC 76-68 before going on the two game skid. Can you see the Bears giving the Cardinal some game tonight at the Pavilion?

Join Jerry F for Stanford Cardinal basketball podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Stanford Cardinal podcast with Jerry Feitelberg Thu Jan 4, 2021 by Sports Radio Service | Free Listening on SoundCloud