That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: How DeMarcus fits in at Golden State; Lowrie will represent A’s at All Star game

bleacherreport.com file photo: Former New Orleans Pelicans DeMarcus Cousins is signed up for one season with Golden State

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

The Golden State Warriors knew they couldn’t leave DeMarcus Cousins out all on his lonesome so Cousins made it easy for Golden State and came to them and they both came to a shocking agreement to a $5.3 million for a season. The Warriors made a move after LeBron James made signed with the Lakers over the weekend.

Kevin Durant, who has two years left on his deal with Golden State and the second year being an option year, could leave the Warriors and such a departure would be a huge impact.

Oakland A’s Baseball Company: The A’s open a two-game homestand tonight against the San Diego Padres after coming off a 15-3 loss to Cleveland Sunday after ending a six game win streak. During the streak A’s reliever Blake Treinen who has 21 saves so far this season.

It’ll be the Padres Clayton Richard 7-7 ERA 4.29 and for the A’s starter Chris Bassitt gets the call 1-3 ERA 2.82 for tonight at the Coliseum.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Hall of Fame Museum vice president, the A’s Spanish play by play radio talent, and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Rockie Reception: Coors Field, Colorado get the best of the Giants again in 5-2 win

By Morris Phillips

Only four hits after the first pitch of the ballgame? Not enough.

A critical, throwing error allowing the go-ahead run to score? One too many.

And Mad Bum extending his scoreless inning streak to 22 innings? Needed to be 23.

Once again, the Giants found Coors Field to be a demanding place, and the Rockies a confounding opponent in their series opening, 5-2 loss in Denver. Madison Bumgarner pitched six, scoreless innings only to run into trouble in the seventh. When the first three batters in the inning singled to load the bases, Bum was gone. The Giants 2-0 lead would be the next thing to disappear on a night when the game time temperature topped 90 degrees.

Rookie reliever Reyes Moronta walked the first batter he faced–slugger Nolan Arenado–trimming the Giants lead to 2-1. A run-scoring, double play ball came next, then Brandon Crawford’s throwing error on a routine grounder to short gave Colorado the lead.

Crawford fielded a ground ball off the bat of Ian Desmond, but threw too casually and errantly to Brandon Belt at first.

“I gave it about an 80-percent throw,” said Crawford. “One-hopper, I had time.”

“It’s about winning games while we’re out there,” Bumgarner said. “That was a tough loss. Everything was going our way early on and didn’t go our way late.”

The Giants three-game win streak was snapped with the loss, and their tenuous grip on second place in the NL West was lost as the Dodgers moved ahead the Giants by beating the Pirates, 17-1. More telling was the Giants blowing an another opportunity to win with Bumgarner starting.  They fell to 2-4 in their ace’s six starts this season, hardly the mid-season boost they were looking for.

Prior to the seventh inning, Bumgarner hadn’t allowed a run since June 16 at Los Angeles.

Gorkys Hernandez homered on the game’s first pitch off Kyle Freeland, but the Rockies and Freeland grew stinger as the game progressed. Buster Posey delivered an RBI double in the third, and that was it. With Freeland and two relievers dealing, the Giants were limited to a pair of hits the rest of the way.

The Rockies added on in the eighth as Ty Blach allowed two runs on three hits without recording an out.

The Giants swept Arizona over the weekend to get as close to the division leaders as they’ve been in months. But the Rockies envisioned themselves in the equation as well, but they slumped in June, and not played as well at home as they have on the road.

After Monday’s win, the Rockies are just 16-22 at Coors Field, but they’ve won 12 of their last 14 against the Giants in Denver.

Chris Stratton gets the ball for the Giants looking for his ninth win on Tuesday in a matchup with Anthony Senzatela, the pitcher who replaced the struggling Jon Gray in the Colorado rotation.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Giants getting plenty of key hits; Offense improves as SF gets six RBIs in Sunday’s finale

sfexaminer.com file photo: San Francisco Giants lead off hitter Gorkys Hernandez had a great month of June and is in the running to make the All Star team. Hernandez who fouled a ball off his shin in Arizona will sit out tonight’s game in Colorado. The injury is day to day.

On the SF Giants podcast with Morris:

The Giants closing in on first place–now 2.5 games back after sweeping the Arizona Diamondbacks over the weekend. In Sunday’s game the Giants got six key RBIs to overcome the Diamondbacks in a 9-6 victory for the sweep. Their key hitting from Hunter Pence, Nick Hundley, Joe Panik, Bradon Crawford, Andrew McCutchen, and Gorkys Hernandez these are the players who piled it on in the series.

Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner wants to hit each time he gets a chance to come to the plate. Bumgarner leads all active pitchers with the most home runs career with 17.  Mad Bum, who never said it, but wouldn’t mind if MLB never uses the universal designated hitter.

The Giants open up a three-game series in Colorado tonight. Bumgarner (1-2) will match up against the Rockies Freeman (7-6). Can the Giants have the same success at Coors Field like they had in Arizona?

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

 

LeBron takes his talents to the Southland; Signs with Lakers for four years and $154 million

nba.com photo: LeBron James as a Laker in painted form is up for a four year stint with the Lakers

By Joe Hawkes Beamon and Jerry Feitelberg

The much anticipated moment is over as predicted LeBron James has signed a four-year, $154 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers as the Lakers try to light the fuse on a franchise that has lagged since superstar Kobe Bryant retired. The Lakers have not been in the playoffs since 2013.

James, who has played most of his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, will leave the team for the second time the first time was when he left for the Miami Heat. LeBron will be entering his 16th NBA season with three NBA Championship rings and four MVPs under his belt. LeBron is confident he can help establish some headway with the Lakers to make them great again.

After this last season’s Championship Final against Golden State, James looked to cry “Uncle” and wanted a change of scenery and looks at the Lakers as an organization that will build toward an NBA Championship Finals team. James makes L.A. his offseason home.

The Lakers are a young team the average player’s age is 25, James (33) will almost be like a player-coach with the young guys on the floor but he will seek assurances from the Lakers organization to get two or three veterans to make that extra push to get the Lakers to be a deep playoff team.

With the signing of James, Kawhi Leonard has expressed interest in joining the Lakers after he said he was no longer going to play for the San Antonio Spurs. Leonard could very well be one of the key building blocks the Lakers are looking towards in getting some experience on their roster.

Joe Hawkes Beamon and Jerry Feitelberg cover the NBA for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: MLB Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame, Mural at the Oakland Coliseum

Photo by Amaury Pi Gonzalez, Vice President of MLB Hispanic Heritage Museum: Mural for the MLB Hispanic Heritage Museum at the Oakland Coliseum

Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame, Mural at the Oakland Coliseum

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By: Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND — At the Club Entrance of the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame has a mural for all fans to enjoy. The mural celebrates the 20th anniversary of the founding of the museum. In 1998 Mr. Gabriel “Tito” Avila Jr. founded the museum as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and since then, it has been traveling all across the country with exhibits at museums, Fanfest, All-Star Games and all kinds of baseball celebrations, including inductions in Major League parks of Hispanic players of all 30 teams.

“The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame thanks Mr.Dave Kaval, President of the Oakland Athletics, for welcoming us and giving us access so this Mural can be enjoyed by thousands of baseball fans” said Avila Jr.

The colorful mural is at the Club Level entrance of the Oakland Coliseum, home of the Oakland Athletics, inside the park. The concept of the mural was captured and put into Dagoberto Blanco “Campy” Campaneris, who is arguably the best shortstop in A’s history. One of the stars during the three of the four World Series championships of the A’s in 1972, 1973 and 1974. He is one of those players the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame has honored and inducted.

The museum’s main goal is to have its permanent location here in the Bay Area, one of most culturally diverse areas in the country. As of 2018, Latino/Hispanic players in the MLB make up around 30% of all players. The main baseball countries in Latin America are Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Cuba, Puerto Rico, México, Panamá, Nicaragua, Colombia, Curazao,and there are also players from Brazil, like Yan Gomes of the Cleveland Indians.

The popularity of baseball has grown in the past decades to the point that Major League games have been played in México and Puerto Rico, Japan. Next year, the Yankees and Red Sox will play in London, England. For the first time, MLB games will be played in Europe. Baseball has become much more international and the museum specially honors the contribution of Hispanic players to the game. The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame wants to thank Mauricio Segura, owner of Golden Bay Magazine, for bringing our concept of this mural to life. The first 20 years the museum became well-known and received recognition from commissioner Bud Selig, and the current commissioner Rob Manfred.

The A’s and the Mariners will open the 2019 season in Japan.

http://www.hispanicheritagebaseballmuseum.org/about/

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the MLB Hispanic Heritage Museum, the play by play radio talent for the Oakland A’s, and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB The Show podcast with Daniel Dullum: Former Oakland A’s pitcher Kilkenny dead at 73; Orioles pay tribute to shooting victims; Tiger coach calls clubhouse attendant “monkey” is fired

file photo from thesocietyforamericanbaseballresearch.com: Former Oakland A’s pitcher the late Mike Kilkenny who passed away this weekend pitched for the A’s the year they won the World Series in 1972

On the MLB The Show podcast with Daniel Dullum

1 Orioles pay tribute in the press box to The Gazette shooting victims

2 Report: Tigers pitching coach fired for directing racial slur at clubhouse attendant

3 Giants take first two of weekend series in Phoenix, close gap in NL West

4 Swingin’ A’s sneak into the AL Wild Card race

5 RIP Mike Kilkenny former Oakland A’s pitcher, who passed away this weekend

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

MLB The Show podcast with Matt Harrington: A’s Treinen just collecting saves up to 21; Yanks-Sox battle for first place tonight; Giants’ Samardjiza might end up closing

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Paul Blackburn (58) delivers a pitch in the first inning of their baseball game against the Cleveland Indians at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Friday, June 29, 2018. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)

On the MLB The Show podcast with Matt:

Good pitching beats good hitting everytime and the Oakland A’s reliever Blake Treinen. whose ERA is 0.89, got his 21st save in a 3-1 win over Cleveland on Friday. Treinen came in relief for A’s starter Paul Blackburn, who lasted 6.1 innings, no runs, three hits, five strike outs, and one walk.

The A’s have jelled, winning five straight and 11 of 13. They also have showed signs of improving their home record taking two of the first three from Cleveland on this current homestand where they had previously struggled at home. The A’s and Mariners are going hot–both teams with five-game win streaks and could very well give the Astros a run if they continue to win games.

The New York Yankees tied for first with a win over the Boston Red Sox on Friday with a convincing 8-1 win behind the pitching effort of CC Sabthia. The Yanks and Sox continue the series tonight.

Finally, the Giants are considering using veteran Jeff Samardzjia as a closer. Samardzjia is coming back from pectoral tightness and might fill a void as the Giants’ closers have coughed up loses that put the Giants in second for the most blown saves in the big leagues this season.

Matt Harrington does the MLB The Show podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Jose Earthquakes podcast with Ana Kieu: Latest news on the Black and Blue

Photo credit: @SJEarthquakes

On the SJ Earthquakes podcast with Ana:

1. The Quakes brought a point back to California after a 1-1 draw in a tilt against Real Salt Lake last Saturday.

2. How’s everything going with the FIFA World Cup viewing parties at Avaya Stadium?

3. The Quakes’ homegrown defender Nick Lima signed a multi-year contract on Tuesday.

4. Give us more information on volunteering for the upcoming creek cleanups in San Jose.

5. What are a few things that people should know before the Cali Clasico between two of the biggest rivals–the Quakes and LA Galaxy?

Ana does the SJ Earthquakes podcasts each week for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Joey Friedman: A’s could be dealing the big names

file photo by beyond the boxscore: Sean Manaea Oakland A’s starter threw a six inning game giving up two runs. The A’s open up against Cleveland tonight

On the A’s podcast with Joey:

Will the A’s shop third baseman Jed Lowrie, outfielder Khris Davis, or catcher Jonathan Lucroy before the trade deadline? The A’s are rolling. They’ve won four straight in a sweep over the Detroit Tigers. Although, they’re 10.5 games out. They’re just seven games back for a wild card berth.

A’s starter Sean Manaea had a good outing on Thursday, going six innings, five hits, two runs, one walk and two strikeouts. Although, pitcher Paul Blackburn had a rough outing in his last pitching appearance in Chicago, A’s pitching coach Scott Emerson likes what he can do. He saw him throwing his best stuff in the bullpen and he’ll get another start against Cleveland tonight at the Coliseum.

Joey does the A’s podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Aces lose a hard fought battle, fast paced game at home to Dallas Wings 97-91

 

McBride working hard
Kayla McBride had a career night on Wednesday night for the Aces Photo: @LVAces

By Charlie O. Mallonee

The Las Vegas Aces and Dallas Wings gave the 5,246 fans at the Mandalay Bay Events Center a full 40-minute show on Wednesday night in the desert. There was no quit in either team as they fought back and forth for the lead. There were 18 lead changes in the contest as Dallas prevailed 97-91 at the final buzzer.

The Aces were led by shooting guard Kayla McBride, who put up a game-high and career-high 38 points in the game. She shot 14-for-22 from the floor and hit 2-of-2 from behind the 3-point line. McBride also went to the free throw line nine times and converted eight of her chances at the charity stripe. She also recorded three assists, three rebounds and two steals in the heartbreaking loss on her home court.

AjA working at the rim
A’ja Wilson had a double-double game for the Aces but is was not enough Photo: @LVAces

Forward A’ja Wilson was the other big contributor for the Aces. The potential All-Star dropped 22 points on the Wings and made it a double-double game by grabbing 15 rebounds. Wilson dished out eight assists and went a perfect 8-for-8 for the free throw line.

Both McBride and Wilson played 36-plus minutes for Bill Laimbeer’s Aces in the game.

Diggins-Smith was all over
Diggins-Smith did it all on defense and offense for the Wings in their win Photo: @dallaswings

The Dallas Wings were paced by their point guard Skylar Diggins-Smith, who was on the floor from the opening tip to the final buzzer. She scored a team-high 29 points while distributing eight assists. Diggins-Smith shot a blistering 52.9-percent from the floor (9-for-17) and hit 2-of-6 from 3-point land. She also played some tenacious defense.

8 gave fits all game
Cambage was a major factor on the floor for the Wings against the Aces @LVAces

Center Liz Cambage was also a major presence for the Wings on Wednesday night. She recorded a double-double, putting up 17 points and hauling in 11 rebounds. Cambage also had three assists and two blocked shots. She also was an intimidating force on defense.

As a team, the Wings had four players score in double-figures. They shot 45.7-percent (32-for-70) overall and hit 10-of-28 from behind the three-point line. The Wings converted 23-of-30 (76.7-percent)  opportunities at the free throw line. The posted 32 team rebounds. Dallas had 20 assists and 11 turnovers meeting that 2-to-1 ratio goal.

The Aces had just the two players in double-figures. As a team, they shot 43.7-percent (31-for-71) from the field. They hit 50-percent of their 3-point attempts, but they attempted only eight shots from long distance. The Aces did have an incredible night at the free throw line as they hit 25-of-27 attempts for a 92.6-percent conversion rate. Las Vegas grabbed 36 rebounds (11 on offense). They recorded 24 assists against 13 turnovers.

“We played hard enough to win,” said coach Bill Laimbeer. “I think we’re a little frustrated by the fact that we can’t get over the hump. But at the same time, it’s our fault because we’re doing the little things wrong.

The loss drops the Aces record to 5-11 (.313) on the season and puts them in 10th place. The victory evens the Wings record at 7-7 (.500) and they are now in seventh place in the league standings.

The Aces will return to action on Friday night when they will host the best team in the WNBA — the Los Angeles Sparks. The Sparks have an 11-3 record, but are just 4-2 on the road. The Aces need to take advantage of that at home.

The Wings head back to Dallas where they will host the sixth-place Minnesota Lynx (8-6) on Sunday.