Tag: Sports radio

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Athletics Veterans in the Bullpen

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Aug 24, 2020 Oakland A’s reliever Yusmeiro Petit throws against the Texas Rangers in Arlington during last year’s regular season. Petit is signed with the A’s for the 2021 season. (AP News photo file)

Athletics Veterans in the Bullpen

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–The A’s solidifying their bullpen after they lost star closer Liam Hendricks, who was considered the best closer available among all the free-agents during the off-season, now with the Chicago White Sox and Joaquim Soria now with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The team is keeping Yusmeiro Petit, 36 years old and a solid veteran arm, one of manager’s Bob Melvin’s favorite and acquired “el veterano” Sergio Romo, who turns 39 in March. Petit and Romo won two World Series for the team across the bay.

On Friday the Athletics were involved in a four-player trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Athletics got more bullpen help with lefty Adam Kolarek plus outfielder prospect Cody Thomas. In return they send infielder Sheldon Neuse and minor league right handed pitcher Gus Varland.

Right now, looks like a very good deal for the Athletics, as Kolarek last season was 3-0 with a 0.95 earned run average in 20 games and 1 save. Kolarek is the ideal lefty to face a lefty hitter in a game situation late in a game.

Sheldon Neuse played some infield for the A’s and Gus Varland is a prospect and might be the key for the Dodgers who are basically loaded with talent and tweaking their club as they are favorite to repeat this year again.

The Western Division this season will be a three-team race, between the reigning division champion Athletics, the Houston Astros and possibly the Los Angeles Angels. I will have my analysis of this division before the season opener April 1.

The Oakland Athletics open the season at home with a 4-game series against the Houston Astros, followed by the World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers for a three-game series.

Stay well and stay tuned.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish radio voice for the Oakland A’s on flagship station 1010 KIQI La Grande San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

No players selected to be in Baseball’s Hall of Fame this year

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Former Boston Red Sox Curt Schilling who failed election in to the MLB Hall of Fame on Tue Jan 26, 2021 namely because of his controversial political views requested to be taken off next year’s ballot and will try and get in in front of the Veteran Committee in 2022 (MassLive.com file photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The eligible members of the BBWAA (baseball writers association of America) did not select any player to the Hall of Fame this year. It was the first time since 1960 that they did not select a player. A player needs 75% of the vote to make it to the Hall. Players have ten years of eligibility. They can gain entrance later if selected by a committee of former players.

There were three players on the ballot that had the best chance of getting selected. They are pitchers Curt Schilling and Roger Clemens. The other player is Barry Bonds. All three are in the ninth year of eligibility.

Schilling received 71% of the vote. He has asked the people at the Hall of Fame to remove him from the ballot next year. He claims that he is willing to take his chances with the players’ committee. The Hall is considering his request. Many people think that Schilling didn’t get the 75% required for entrance due to his political views.

Schilling holds extreme right-wing positions. Many people were shocked that he allegedly made remarks supporting the people who attacked and vandalized the Capitol on January 6th, 2021.

The Hall of Fame vote took place before the attack but might affect the vote later this year. The Hall of Fame is a museum. Many people in the Hall have character less than sterling. The Hall voters have to vote on the players’ performance. Is Schilling worthy enough to be in the Hall? He won 219 games in his career.

Schilling is a three-time World Champion. He won one with the Arizona Diamondbacks and two with the Boston Red Sox. His courage and fortitude on the mound can not be questioned. His performance in game six of the 2004 AL Championship series is legendary. He beat the Yankees to send the series to game seven. The Red Sox won that game and then beat the St Louis Cardinal to win the World Series for the first time in 86 years.

Roger Clemens won over 350 games with the Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, and Houston Astros. He won seven Cy Young Awards as the best pitcher in the American League. His numbers should mean induction into the Hall.

The fly in the ointment is the claim that he, allegedly, used performance enhancing drugs. Clemens never failed a drug test. He received about 61 % of the vote last year and about the same this year. His chances of getting in next year are slim. He will have to wait until later.

Barry Bonds was one of the best hitters ever to put on a uniform to play baseball. Bonds won the National League’s Most Valuable Player Award seven times. No other player in Major League history has won it more than three times.

Bonds holds the single-season record for most home runs with 73. He broke Henry Aaron’s record of 755 homers in a career in 2007. He finished his career with 762. Bonds, like Clemens, never failed a drug test. He, too, had to deal with accusations that he used performance-enhancing drugs.

There may be people in the Hall that used steroids to help them hit or pitch. Many voters are not willing to vote for players that “cheated.” Some voters are willing to say that Clemens and Bonds using steroids during those years was not illegal.

Attendance at baseball games dropped after the player’s strike in 1994. The teams’ owners looked the other way when Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa sent balls flying out of the parks in 1998. McGwire finished with 70, and Sosa had 66. Clemens and Bonds will have to wait. They have the numbers for entrance. Many people believe they should be included. Only time will tell.

Jerry Feitelberg is an Oakland A’s beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL podcast with Mary Lisa Walsh: Sabers bombard Flyers in five goal win 6-1; Canes score three in come back win over Preds; plus more

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The Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart (79) had a rough night stopping pucks as the Buffalo Sabers Jack Eichel (9) cant get past the Sabers Provorov (9) and the Flyers Eric Gustafsonn (56) looks after the puck (AP News photo)

On the NHL podcast with Mary Lisa:

#1 The Philadelphia Flyers who were coming off two wins took a tough loss to the Buffalo Sabers on Monday night 6-1. The Sabers Curtis Lazar and Sam Reinhart both scored twice. The Flyers just simply could not get any semblance of offense going and Flyers goalie Carter Hart was having a tough time stopping shots facing 18-22.

#2 The Carolina Hurricanes got a two goal victory over the Nashville Predators 4-2. The Hurricanes down 2-1 came back in the third period getting goals from Vincent Trocheck, Sebastian Aho, and Nino Niederreiter.

#3 Big night for the Toronto Maple Leafs getting a 3-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets. For Toronto scoring Monday night John Taveras and Mitch Marner who scored twice in the two goal win.

#4 In a back and forth game between the San Jose Sharks and the St Louis Blues the St Louis Blues just escaped going overtime with the scored tied 4-4 and the Blues Jordan Kyrou scored the game winner at 10:28. Final was 5-4 Blues. Same two teams meet again on Wednesday night at the Enterprise Center.

#5 The Columbus Blue Jackets picked up their first win of 2021 with a 3-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. The Jackets scorers Oliver Bjorkstrand, Alexandre Texier, and Pierre Luc Dubois.

Join Mary Lisa for the NHL podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL podcast with Len Shapiro: Devils edge Bruins 2-1 in OT; Sharks Meier scores hat trick but Coyotes win 5-3; plus more

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New Jersey Devils Yegor Sharangovich (17) celebrates his overtime goal with teammates Kyle Palmer (21) and P.K. Subban (76) for the overtime win against the Boston Bruins on Sat Jan 16, 2021 at New Jersey (AP News photo)

On the NHL podcast with Len:

#1 The New Jersey Devils and the Boston Bruins played to a 2-1 overtime with New Jersey coming out the winner. New Jersey got on the board first when Miles Woods scored at 16:15 in the first period. The Bruins Patrice Bergeron tied the game in the second period at 17:16 with his second goal of the year. Jersey’s Yegor Sharangovich scored the overtime goal for the win at 4:58.

#2 The Arizona Coyotes after losing to the San Jose Sharks on opening night Thursday got a 5-3 win on Saturday despite the Sharks Timo Meier who scored a hat trick and all of San Jose’s goals. The Yotes Phil Kessel scored twice in the three goal win for Arizona.

#3 The Montreal Canadiens got a huge four goal win over the Edmonton Oilers 5-1 on Saturday night. The Habs got scoring from Jeff Petry and Tomas Tatar who both scored twice. Jake Evan scored a short handed goal.

#4 The New York Rangers got a 5-0 shutout over the New York Islanders at Madison Square Garden on Saturday. The Rangers got scoring help from Pavel Buchnevich and Artemi Panarin who scored twice and Kappo Kakko scored one goal for the win. Ranger goaltender Alexandar Georgiev faced 23 shots for the shutout.

#5 The Detroit Red Wings got a two goal win against the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2. The Wings got scoring from Dylan Larkin who scored twice, Bobby Ryan, and Robby Fabbri score a goal each.

Join Len each Sunday night for a look at the weekend’s NHL action at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Bears catch fire after halftime, win at Utah 72-63

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By Morris Phillips

Without Matt Bradley, and after a lackluster first half, the Bears shocked Utah with a 50-point second half in their surprising 72-63 road win.

The Bears overcame a 15-point deficit and won for only the third time on an opponent’s home floor in the last three seasons. And they did it by sharing the ball, shooting from distance, and defending, three things they haven’t done well all season.

The Bears trailed 15-5 and 24-9 in the first half before exploding with 58 percent shooting after the break.

Grant Anticevich led the comeback with 10 of his 14 points durind a critical stretch that gave Cal a decisive advantage. All 10 came within three minutes in which Cal went from up two to leading 60-50 with 7:33 remaining.

“It was really uplifting for our entire team to see him make a few, and I think it took the pressure off of everybody,” said coach Mark Fox of Anticevich.

Utah got as close as down 69-63 with 2:04 remaining, but Cal held them scoreless the rest of the way. The Utes missed 11 of their 12 3-point attempts after the break while Cal buried six from distance, including consecutive threes from Anticevich.

Makale Foreman scored 12 points, Andre Kelly and Jarred Hyder had 11, and Ryan Betley nine in Cal’s balanced attack. Timmy Allen led Utah with a game-high 26.

The Cal women were also in Salt Lake City on Saturday awaiting their Sunday afternoon game against Utah when they announced that COVID issues within their team came to light in their most recent round of tests. The cancellation of their game created confusion that manifested itself with 20 text messages received by Coach Fox with people wondering if the men’s game had been postponed.

The Bears (7-8, 2-6) return home for a Thursday night meeting with first-place UCLA at 6pm.

 

 

NHL podcast with Matt Harrington: Saturday night’s action saw some great offense for opening weekend

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The Philadelphia Flyers Travis Konecny (11) scores his third goal for a hat trick behind Pittsburgh Penguins Marcus Pettersson (28) and goalie Casey DeSmith (1) on Fri Jan 15, 2021 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia  (AP News photo)

On the NHL podcast with Matt Harrington:

#1 The Philadelphia Flyers got a three goal win over the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2. The Flyers got scoring help from Travis Konecny who scored twice in the first period and got the hat trick in the third period at 17:53.

#2  Good back and forth hockey from the Washington Capitals and the Buffalo Sabers in a 2-1 win for the Caps. Washington got goal scoring help from Jakub Vrana his second of the year at 1:34 in the second period. The second Caps goal came from Tom Wilson who scored his first goal of the season at 7:47 in third period.

#3 The Tampa Bay Lighting got a three goal win over the Chicago Blackhawks 5-2. Tampa Bay got goals from five different Bolts, Ondrej Palot, Alex Killorn and Blake Coleman scored in the second period. In the third period Yanni Gourde and Steven Stamkos each had a goal.

#4 The Toronto Maple Leafs were no match for the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night for Hockey Night in Canada. The Sens got goal scoring help in their 5-3 win from Thomas Chabot, Brody Tkachuk, Austin Watson, and Derek Stepan. Leafs goalie Frederik Anderson stopped 19 shots and allowed five goals.

#5 Talk about the NHL Champs St Louis Blues who got blown out by the Colorado Avalanche on Friday night 8-0. Talk about St Louis goaltender Ville Husso who saw a lot shots in net last night.

Matt takes a look at Friday NHL action each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Balanced Buffaloes attack sinks Cardinal 77-64

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The Stanford Cardinal (13) Oscar da Silva takes a jump shot against the Colorado Buffaloes on Sat Jan 16, 2021 in Colorado (gostanford.com photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Saturday, January 16, 2021

Stanford wound up 0 for 2 on its Rocky Mountain Pac-12 men’s basketball road trip, following a 77-64 loss to Colorado Saturday at Boulder.

McKinley Wright IV led the Buffaloes’ balanced attack with 14 points and eight assists, with Evan Battey scoring 13 points to go with 12 rebounds. Jabari Walker and Jeriah Horne added 11 and 10 points, respectively, for Colorado, which is 5-0 at home this season.

CU freshman Tristan da Silva – younger brother of the Cardinal’s Oscar da Silva – hit his first career 3-pointer at the first-half buzzer.

The Buffaloes (11-3 overall, 5-2 Pac-12) had nine of their players in the scoring column in the first half. Stanford never got to within eight points in the entire second half.

Oscar da Silva led Stanford with a game-high 22 points along with 12 rebounds, his fourth double-double in five games. Ziaire Williams was next for the Cardinal with 17 points and five rebounds, and Jaiden Delaire added 13 points, 11 of them in the second half.

One bright spot for the Cardinal – they were a perfect 15 of 15 at the free throw line.

The Cardinal (8-5, 4-3) returns home this week to host Southern California on Thursday and UCLA next Saturday. Both games will be played in Santa Cruz, each with a 2 p.m. Pacific Time tipoff.

Sharks Lose 5-3 to Coyotes Despite 3 Point Game for Meier

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The San Jose Sharks Timo Meier (28) stick handling the puck, the Arizona Coyotes Christian Fischer (28), and the Sharks Logan Couture (39) in pursuit at Glendale Arena on Sat Jan 16, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Mary Walsh

The San Jose Sharks lost 5-3 to the Coyotes in Arizona Saturday afternoon. Arizona goals came from Phil Kessel (2), Barrett Hayton, Jakob Chychrun and Clayton Keller scored for Arizona. Timo Meier, Tomas Hertl and Ryan Donato scored for San Jose. Antti Raanta made 31 saves for the win Martin Jones made 19 saves in the loss.

After the game, Sharks Head Coach Bob Boughner said:

We spent a lot more time in their end in the O-zone, we played a little faster I thought. You know, they got a little bit of puck luck tonight. They were the better team in the first game. I thought we played a lot harder and a lot more structured in this game.

The Sharks led the game in many respects but not on the scoresheet. They outshot the Coyotes 34-26, they had four power plays to Arizona’s 3. San Jose scored in two of four power plays and killed two of three penalties. The glaring bad stat was in the faceoff circle. They won just 40% of them. The only Sharks skater to win more than half of his draws was Patrick Marleau, who took five draws and won four. Tomas Hertl won 7 of 18, and Logan Couture won 5 of 11. No one else took more than three or won more than one.

On the subject of faceoffs, Boughner said:

It’s something we gotta get way better at. I think that we struggled in the faceoff circle even in the first game. You know, it’s an important part of the game and I thought our puck movement was better off of won faceoffs. But we lost too many, and you’re chasing the puck all night.

The Sharks scored first at 3:34, with a power play goal from Ryan Donato. Conor Garland was in the box for tripping Marc-Edouard Vlasic. High in the slot, Timo Meier bobbled a shot but got it right back and sent it through traffic and off of Ryan Donato. Assists went to Meier and Mario Ferraro.

Arizona responded with their own power play goal at 12:31. Evander Kane was in the box for tripping Tyler Pitlick. Phil Kessel tried to send the puck in and it went off of Nikolai Knyzhov. It came right back to Kessel and he moved around the Sharks defense to make a backhand shot that went through before slipping past Martin Jones. An assist went to Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

Barrett Hayton gave the Coyotes a lead at 14:41. After a lot of play behind the net, Conor Garland made a quick pass to the Hayton in the slot. Assists went to Garland and Nick Schmaltz.

Timo Meier tied it back up less than a minute later. Meier was moving down the wall with the puck, while Kevin Labanc skated down the slot with Jakob Chychrun defending. Meier made the pass and it hit Chychrun and bounced into the net.

Arizona scored twice in the second period, the first a shot from the blue line from Ekman-Larsson. His shot went right through four skaters before hitting Phil Kessel on its way into the net. It was Kessel’s second of the game, with assists to Ekman-Larsson and Christian Dvorak.

Jakob Chychrun scored at 8:56. A clean face-off win in the offensive zone gave Chychrun a shot with lots of traffic as the face-off broke up. Derick Brassard got the assist.

Clayton Keller added to the Coyotes lead just 2:39 into the third period. After Brassard won another offensive zone faceoff, Ekman-Larsson held the puck at the blue line before trying for a tip from Keller in the slot. Martin Jones stopped that but Keller came right down for the rebound and put that one in. Assists went to Ekman-Larsson and Brassard.

Midway through the third, Boughner pulled Martin Jones and put Devan Dubnyk in. After the game, the coach explained that that was only to give Dubnyk sme ice tine before their next game. Since it did not come right after the fifth goal, it did not look like a reaction to Jones’ play in particular.

The Sharks had a power play start in the final minute of play, and scored their own goal right off of an O-zone faceoff. Just eight seconds into the power play, Tomas Hertl tipped Timo Meier’s shot from the top of the circle. Assists went to Meier and Erik Karlsson.

Roster changes: Jacob Middleton was in for Nick Meloche on the blue line.

The Sharks now travel to St. Louis for their next game at 5:00 PM PT on Monday, against the Blues.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Here comes Yoelkis

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The half brother of former New York Met Yoenis Cespedes, Yoelkis will be swinging the bats for the Chicago White Sox for the next three seasons. Yoelkis used to play for Cuba as their centerfielder. (New York Times file photo)

Here comes Yoelkis

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

On June 25, 2019 Yoelkis Céspedes deserted the Cuban National Team while participating in the Can-Am games. On January 15, 2021, the Chicago White Sox signed the 23 year-old, half brother of Yoenis Céspedes, Yoelkis for $2,050,000.

He was the #1 prospect in this year’s International Players list. Scouts have him as a five-tool player and believe he could be ready to play this year in the major leagues. The White Sox also selected the #15 International prospects on the list, a right-handed pitcher by the name of Norge Vera, also from Cuba.

In 2017 the Chicago White Sox signed Cuban center-fielder Luis Robert who was also ranked “Número Uno” in the International Players list. Last season Robert was a finalist for the Rookie of the Year in the American League.

The Chicago White Sox have the Cuban Pipeline which is good and alive. Last season their first baseman Cuban-born All Star José Abreu, won the American League Most Valuable Player. Aside from these players, the White Sox already have Yusmani Grandal, Yoan Moncada, already established players also born in the largest island in the Caribbean and probably more on the way.

Some of what the scouts that have seen Yoelkis Céspedes have said: He has added 15 pounds of muscle and now has more power and explosive bat speed. He is a “plus runner” a “solid defender” and a line-drive hitter who spray the ball across the outfield. He has revamped his swing since defection and today looks almost exactly like his older brother Yoenis in the batter’s box.

The Oakland Athletics selected #13 Pedro Pineda from the Dominican Republic, while the San Francisco Giants selected the #22 prospect Diego Velásquez, a shortstop from Venezuela. Stay well and stay tuned.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the Major League Baseball Hispanic Heritage Museum Hall of Fame and does News and Commentary podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Yadier Molina to the Gigantes, in Puerto Rico

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The St Louis Cardinals Yadier Molina has reached out the Cardinals for a two year contract but says it’s God’s will if he does or doesn’t get an offer from the Cards and if not plans to retire (AP file photo)

Yadier Molina to the Gigantes, in Puerto Rico

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Yadier Molina, future Hall of Fame catcher of the St Louis Cardinals was approved by Carlos Berroa, Director of the Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League in Puerto Rico to play in the island. Molina belongs to the reserves of the Gigantes de Carolina.

According to the bylaws of the league, Yadier Molina, according to Section 1.06 of the league as stated by their Director Carlos Berroa announced the catcher is eligible to play during the postseason in Puerto Rico because he is a Major League player and native of Puerto Rico.

Such players, born in Puerto Rico who are currently in rosters in the Major League are eligible to play in the Puerto Rican League during the postseason, even if they have not played during their regular season. The spirit of this Section 1.06 “allows these Puerto Rican-born players to play in front of their fans in their homeland” according to Director Berroa.

With roughly a month left before the Cardinals are scheduled to have pitchers and catchers report to Jupiter, Florida for spring training, Molina remains unsigned. The team has been in touch with Molina’s representative and both sides expect the dialogue to continue and increase in the near future.

Molina, a free-agent, now 38 years of age, has made it clear he wants to stay in St Louis and is seeking a two-year contract, but acknowledged that if an appealing offer is not there, he will consider retiring. “Getting ready as always and God will tell” Molina said in an interview with Cardinals broadcaster Polo Ascensio. Molina added “If God wants me to come back, then I’ll come back. And if not I will retire with my head held high”.

Yadier Molina has played for the St Louis Cardinals his whole career from 2004 to 2020, 17 years. One of the greatest defensive catchers of all time has won nine Rawlings Gold Gloves and six Fielding Bible Awards. Two-time World Series champion with eleven playoff appearances and four National League pennant winners. Molina’s compatriot, Iván Rodríguez has won the most Gold Gloves at catcher, with 13. Rodríguez was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2017.

Puerto Rico is the land of catchers. José Molina, Bengie Molina and Yadier Molina all from the “Isla del Encanto”(The Enchanted Island) are the only three brothers in Major League Baseball history to all win World Series rings. And of course, all catchers.

Stay well and stay tuned.

Catch Amaury each Tuesday morning for That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com