Tag: Sports radio

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s need another win to live another day for game 4

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Oakland A’s reliever Liam Hendriks slams the door on the Houston Astros for the game 3 victory of the American League Division Series at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 It was do or die for the Oakland A’s win big or go home. The A’s chose the latter and a three run home run by Chad Pinder got the A’s right back in the all game after being three runs down.

#2 It was a home run derby for A’s hitters five to survive in game 3 if not for that there would be no game 4.

#3 Jerry talk about Astro pitching is this an indication of where their bullpen is at or just a hic up in the series?

#4 After watching Chris Bassitt and Sean Manaea go down in their starts for the A’s and the Astros had that five run fifth the A’s were still producing home runs and didn’t buckle and persevered scoring three in the seventh and two in the eighth to come back.

#5 The A’s will start Frankie Montas for game 4 and the Astros will start Zack Greinke. Will this be another one for the ages or will the Astros get back on track and end it today?

Join Jerry for the Oakland A’s post season podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Earthquakes dominate in 3-0 shutout win over Whitecaps

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The San Jose Earthquakes Paul Marie boots a goal for the Quakes in the second half against the Vancouver Whitecaps at Earthquakes Stadium on Wed Oct 7, 2020 (AP News photo)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE, Calif- What a difference a week and a half makes. One minute you’re left rotting in the basement of the Western Conference, the next, you’re in a playoff spot.

The San Jose Earthquakes played one of its best matches from start to finish in a 3-0 shutout victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday evening at Earthquakes Stadium.

San Jose are on a season high three-game winning streak where they have jumped from dead last all the way up to 7th place in the Western Conference with 20 points. The top eight teams in the conference make the playoffs. A tough season for Vancouver continued with their fourth consecutive loss.

Quakes head coach Matias Almeyda only had to make one slight tinker to his starting lineup as Tommy Thompson started at left back in place for Marcos Lopez, who was out playing with the Peruvian national team.

Despite a scoreless 45 minutes, the first half featured plenty of scoring chances from both sides. Vancouver (5-11-0)’s Cristian Dájome sent a header over the cross bar in the eight minute and the Whitecaps leading scorer, Freddy Montero, sent in a shot that Quakes goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski saved to keep the Whitecaps off the board in the 20th minute.

“We really saw a competitive team. The restart of this season for each team was difficult. This season is unstable, just how we are living all around the world. It is difficult to train so little and play so often. Today, we had 20 players even. Many youngsters participated. I think standing up after the previous negative performances, there is conviction and special work that we’ve done. There is good communication and adequate interpretation. We were able to overcome that negative streak at the beginning of the season. However, we cannot deny that the season is difficult for everyone,” Almeyda said.

The only thing Vancouver dominated throughout the match was corner kicks. They had seven in the first half alone. Andy Rose’s header in the 26th minute, fought off by Marcinkowski, was the best chance the Whitecaps had to breaking the deadlock.

San Jose (5-6-5) midfielder Cristian Espinoza was involved in two of the Quakes best chances to get the Quakes on the board. He shot attempt in the sixth minute was stoned away by Whitecaps goalkeeper Evan Bush. Then in the 31st minute, Marcinkowski found Espinoza all alone on a long ball but Espinoza’s chip shot sailed over the net.

The Quakes kept its momentum rolling in the second half finally breaking through with the game’s opening goal in the 50th minute. Nick Lima found an open Espinoza inside the box. The 25 year old Argentinean performed a spin-o-rama around two Whitecaps defenders and fired a shot from 15 yards out past Bush to the far left corner of the net for his second goal of the season.

“The team was just trying to keep the momentum going,” said Marcinkowski when asked about his team’s three-game win streak. “Keep the quality we know we can play. I think we lost out identity a little bit ago. It’s nice to have it back. It’s nice to be playing good football.”

Frustrations seemed to get the better of Vancouver as in the 53rd minute, Rose received his second yellow card of the match, resulting in an automatic red card and ejection from the match.

With Vancouver down a man, San Jose took advantage of the situation in the 66th minute. Thompson found Carlos Fierro streaking down the left side of the pitch. Fierro centered the ball into the middle of the box where an open Andrés “Andy” Ríos one-timed the ball past Bush for his fourth goal of the season. Ríos has scored in back-to-back games for San Jose.

The Whitecaps began to lose their composure from there on out. Érik Godoy was issued a red card by referee Allen Chapman in the 75th minute for unsportsmanlike play against Jackson Yueill. They finished the match with only nine players on the pitch.

San Jose capped off its impressive night with its third goal with just under a minute left in the match. Thompson started a counter attack and found Paul Marie, who came in as a substitute in the 85th minute for Lima, and the 12th overall pick in the 2018 MLS draft lasered in a shot from 20 yards out beating Bush to the far left corner of the net for his first career MLS goal.

Marcinkowski finished the night with five saves for his first career shutout and third straight victory. Bush also finished with fives saved in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose had four corner kicks. Vancouver had seven,

The Earthquakes announced earlier in the afternoon that the club has signed midfielder Jackson Yueill to a new multi-year contract.

Quakes defenseman Florian Jungwirth will be out with a one-game suspension due to yellow card accumulation. He was issued a yellow card in the fourth minute of stoppage time in the first half.

San Jose won the possession battle by a 66%-34% margin.

The Earthquakes are one of five teams in MLS to win each of their last three matches.

The Quakes now hold a 4-0-0 record in their last four meetings with Whitecaps FC, scoring at least three goals in each of them.

San Jose set a club record with five Homegrown Players appearing in a match for the first time (Cowell, Fuentes, Lima, Marcinkowski, Thompson). The Quakes also had each of their last three first-round SuperDraft picks appear in the match (Beason, Haji, Marie).

Espinoza has now tallied a goal or assist in three consecutive matches, totaling one goal and three assists in that span. It also marked his second game-winning goal of the season and second of his MLS career.

Fierro was credited with an assist on Rios’ goal. It marked his second assist of the season and second of his MLS career.

Thompson was credited with an assist on both Rios’ and Marie’s goals. It marked his third and fourth assists of the season, and eighth and ninth of his MLS career. His four assists this season tie his single-season career high (2017).

Eighteen-year-old Homegrown Gilbert Fuentes made his first appearance of the season and third of his MLS career, entering as a substitute in the 85th minute.

Midfielder Siad Haji made his first appearance of the season, entering as a substitute in the 88th minute.

UP NEXT: San Joe begins a two-game roadtrip as it travels out to Portland to take on the Timbers on Sunday 10/11 at 7:00pm at Providence Park.

 

San Jose Earthquakes podcast with Marko Ukalovic: After knocking off two LA teams Quakes look to win a third straight tonight vs. Vancouver

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The San Jose Earthquakes Nick Lima (left) looks to get after the futbol as he and the Quakes edged the Los Angeles Galaxy at Earthquakes Stadium in San Jose Sat Oct 3, 2020 (photo from USA Today)

Marko on the SJ Earthquakes podcast:

#1 The Quakes handled two LA teams LAFC and the Galaxy back to back after going winless in nine games.

#2 Taking the Quakes last game against the Galaxy they got a one goal 2-1 win and a full effort by everybody in the match.

#3 Marko, talk about the scuffle the Quakes and the Galaxy had during the game in the 58th minute when Nick Lima of the Quakes and Joe Corona were both going for the ball on the sidelines and ending up on the ground with Corona slapping Lima on the back of the head.

#4 From your column after the game Saturday:The Quakes scored the equalizer at the 42nd minute when a cross from Nick Lima sailed over from right to left on to the foot of Marcos López. The 20-year old left back made one touch before blasting a left footed strike past Bingham into the upper right corner of the net for his first career MLS goal.

#5 The Earthquakes host the Vancouver Whitecaps tonight at Earthquakes Stadium a 7:30 pm kickoff how do you see this match as the Quakes look to win their third straight game.

Marko Ukalovic is your host on the San Jose Earthquakes podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s offense comes to life beat Astros 9-7 stay alive avoid elimination

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The Oakland A’s Chad Pinder (right) gets congratulations after the conclusion of game 3 of the ALDS against the Houston Astros at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles on Wed Oct 7, 2020. (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

It was do or die for the Oakland A’s on Wednesday when they faced off against the Houston Astros. The Astros, with a win, would have ended the A’s 2020 season. The A’s found a way to stay alive as they beat the Astros 9-7 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

The A’s offense came to life against five Houston pitchers. The A’s tied a franchise record by sending five balls out of the park. Four of the blast were solo jobs. The big hit was Chad Pinder’s three-run shot in the top of the seventh. The late Baltimore Oriole manager, Earl Weaver, always said that a three run home run was his favorite play in baseball.

Oakland needed to get off to a fast start on Wednesday. The Astros started Jose Urquiddy in place of Zack Greinke. Greinke was not feeling 100% and was scratched. With one out in the first inning, A’s second baseman, Tommy La Stella, homered to give the A’s an early 1-0 lead. Houston, in their half of the first, put two on the board. Former MVP, Jose Altuve tied the score with a solo home run. Michael Brantley, playing in left, followed with a single.

He went to third thanks to Alex Bregman’s single. Shortstop Carlos Correa drove in Brantley with the Astros’ second when he hit into a fielder’s choice. The Astros lead 2-1 after one inning of play.

The A’s tied the game in the top of the second. Mark Canha led off the second with a home run to center-field. In the fourth, A’s first baseman, Matt Olson, homered to right to put the A’s up 3-2. The A’s homer parade continued when Marcus Semien hit one in the fifth to give Oakland a two-run cushion 4-2 midway through the fifth.

The Astros have a very potent offense. They know that they can put runs on the board. They showed their prowess in the bottom of the fifth when they sent ten men to the plate. They scored five runs on five hits, one hit batter, and two walks.

First baseman Yuli Guriel walked. DH Aledmys Diaz tied the game with a home run to left. Luzardo retired Martin Maldonado for the first out. A’s manager, Bob Melvin, brought in Yusmeiro Petit to pitch. Petit, who had an outstanding season, did not fare well on Wednesday. He hit George Springer with a pitch.

Singles by Altuve and Brantley put Houston in the lead 5-4. Alex Bregman doubled to drive in Brantley with Houston’s sixth run of the game. Altuve was thrown out at third on the playThe A’s gave Carlos Correa an intentional walk to put men on at first and second with two out. Lefty Jake Diekman was brought in to pitch to the left-handed hitter, Kyle Tucker. Tucker beat the strategy as he singled to right to drive in Bregman. Houston now leads 7-4 after five.

The A’s had to do two things to win. They needed the offense to wake up and score. They required the vaunted bullpen to shut down the Astros’ offense. They found their mojo and came through on both counts.

The A’s put three on the board in the seventh. Marcus Semien started the rally with a single. Tommy La Stella also singled. Semien went to third. A’s third baseman, Chad Pinder, tied the game with an opposite-field blast.

Oakland was back in the game. They plated two more runs in the eighth. Robbie Grosman walked to get things going. Ramon Laureano doubled, sending Grossman to third. Catcher Sean Murphy drove in Grossman with the tie-breaking run with a sacrifice fly to right.

The A’s loaded the bases when Semien was walked, and a pitch hit La Stella. La Stella was hit his right elbow and had to leave the game. Pinder drove in his fourth run of the game with a sacrifice fly to right to put the A’s in the driver’s seat 9-7.

The A’s brought in their closer, Liam Hendriks, to pitch three innings. Hendriks allowed just one hit and no runs in his three innings of work. He got out of a jam in the eighth when Houston put men on at first and second with no outs. He retired the next three batters to quell the uprising. The A’s win 9-7 and live to see another day.

Game Notes- The A’s are not out of the woods. They must win Thursday to stay alive. They announced Frankie Montas as their starter for Thursday’s game. The Astros have not determined their starter yet.

The line score for Oakland was nine runs, eleven hits, and one error. The A’s tied a franchise record with five home runs. The last time they had five homers in a postseason game came against the San Francisco Giants in the 1989 World Series.
Houston’s line was seven runs, ten hits, and no errors. They hit two home runs.

Game four will be played Thursday afternoon at Dodger Stadium. The game will start at 12:35 pm.

Las Vegas Raiders podcast with Barbara Mason: Too much Josh Allen but Raiders played a close game in seven point loss

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The Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) comes back to the Bills sideline after a quarterback keeper for a touchdown and is greeted by head coach Sean McDermott in the second half against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sun Oct 4, 2020 in Las Vegas (AP News photo)

On the Raiders podcast with Barbara:

#1 Barbara to start off how irresponsible are the Raiders for attending a charity event last week not wearing any masks and later were fined by the NFL namely tight end Darren Waller for $30,000 and quarterback Derek Carr $15,000 just to name a few.

#2 Barbara, you knew it was going to be a challenge when the Raiders were going to host the Buffalo Bills and it was a game that mostly went to the Bills.

#3 The Bills certainly got there money’s worth on offense as Bills quarterback Josh Allen threw 24-34 for 288 yards and two touchdowns.

#4 The Raiders did shutout the Bills in the third quarter one of the toughest offenses in the NFL that really speaks well to the to the Raiders defense.

#5 The Raiders behind 17-16 saw the Bills score 13 in the fourth quarter and that pretty much crushed the Raiders chances of any kind of come back losing by a touchdown 30-23.

#6 The Raiders are headed to Kansas City to face the Chiefs next Sunday. The Chiefs hosted the New England Patriots last night. The Patriots almost didn’t make the trip because of quarterback Cam Newton’s positive test but after the Patriots had negative results from their tests they made the trip.

Barbara does the Raiders podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Astros beat A’s again 5-2; Need one more win to eliminate A’s

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The Oakland A’s pitcher Sean Manaea heads to the A’s dugout in the fifth after being lifted by manager Bob Melvin as the A’s struggle with the Houston Astros in game 2 in the ALDS at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles (AP News photo) 

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Houston Astros won Game Two of the best-of-five series against the A’s by a score of 5-2 Tuesday afternoon in Los Angeles. Oakland now has tow win three in a row to advance to the AL Championship Series. Will it be difficult?

Yes, it will. It can be done. In 1984, the Chicago Cubs won the first two games of the series with the San Diego Padres. The Friars stunned the Cubs, winning the next three to eliminate them. The A’s know that if they lose Wednesday’s game, their season is over.

The A’s drew first blood in the bottom of the second inning. With one out, A’s DH, Khris Davis, hit his second home run of the series to give the A’s an early 1-0 lead. The lead didn’t last long as Houston put two on the board in the top of the third.

With Josh Reddick on first and two out, Houston’s hot-hitting centerfielder, George Springer, blasted his first career home run off Sean Manaea to give the Astros the advantage 2-1.

Houston put one on the board in the fourth. Their DH, Michael Brantley, doubled to right. Kyle Tucker’s infield single sent Brantley to third. Carlos Correa drove in Brantley with Houston’s third run when he grounded out.

The A’s third baseman, Chad Pinder, led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a solo home run to make it a 3-2 game. The A’s didn’t know that was the last time they would score.

Houston put the game away in the fifth. Catcher Martin Maldonado ended Sean Manaea’s day when he homered to left. A’s manager, Bob Melvin, replaced Manaea with Yusmeiro Petit. Petit had the unenviable task of facing George Springer.

Springer had four hits in Monday’s game and had homered in his last at-bat. Springer, who had fourteen homers in the regular season, hit his second dinger of the game to give Houston a 5-2 advantage.

The A’s bullpen shut down the Houston offense the rest of the way. They did not allow a hit over the last four and 2/3rds innings of play.

The Houston bullpen stopped the A’s cold. After Davis’ single in the fourth, the A’s offense went to sleep. They retired thirteen A’s hitters in a row. Marcus Semien ended the drought in the ninth with a single. Houston closer, Ryan Pressley retired Tommy La Stella for the first out in the ninth. He got Pinder to ground into a game-ending 6-4-3 double play. The Astros win 5-2.

Game Notes- The line score for Houston was five runs, six hits, and no errors. The Line for Oakland was two runs, six hits, and no errors.

Five home runs were hit in the game. Houston hit three. The A’s hit two.
Sean Manaea was the losing pitcher. Manaea went four and 1/3rd innings. He allowed four runs, five hits, and two home runs. Yusmeiro Petit allowed one run, which was Springer’s second homer of the game.

Lefty Framber Valdez was the winning pitcher. He went seven innings and allowed two runs and five hits.

Game three will be placed Wednesday afternoon at Dodger Stadium. The Astros will be the home team. The teams have not announced the starting pitchers. The game will start at 12:35 pm.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Astros rally in late innings to clobber A’s in game 1

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The Houston Astros Carlos Correa (1) take Oakland A’s starter Chris Bassitt deep in game 1 of the ALDS at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles Mon Oct 4, 2020 (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury’s podcast:

#1 Oakland A’s starter Chris Bassitt was doing such a masterful job up until he had to face the Houston Astros in game 1 of the ALDS. It was the fourth inning the Astros came through with three runs.

#2 From what you could see Amaury what wasn’t working for Bassitt, was he getting behind on the count, was he missing his velocity, or was he just pressing?

#3 The Astros had their big boppers working for them in Carlos Correa and George Springer they can provide some offense.

#4 The ALDS is a neutral site series at Dodger Stadium played in hot temperatures it was 91 at game time does a neutral site location take away any advantage for the A’s.

#5 Sean Manaea who pitched in the A’s last season post season wild card game will start Tuesday in game 2 at Dodger Stadium. Will he feel that type of pressure like he did last year?

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

Houston’s offense roughs up Oakland’s pitching win first game AL Division Series 10-5

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The Houston Astros Carlos Correa (left) and George Springer (right) jump for joy after the Astros took game 1 of the ALDS in Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles for the first neutral site playoff game on Mon Oct 5, 2020 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Houston Astros, playing with a chip on their collective shoulders, pounded out sixteen hits to defeat the A’s 10-5 to win Game One of the five-game AL Division Series.

The teams were playing in Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium. The A’s are the home team, but it didn’t feel as if they had a home-field advantage. Instead of playing in Oakland’s cooler temperatures, the temperature at game time was 91 degrees.

Also missing for Oakland was the vast, foul territory that exists at the Coliseum. The teams knew that baseballs carry better in warm air, and Monday’s game featured six long balls, three by each team.

The A’s sent righty Chris Bassitt to the hill. Bassitt was the AL pitcher of the month in September. However, he had to face a Houston Astros lineup loaded with players that know how to it. It was not going to be an easy task to keep the Astros down.

The Astros were 29-31 during the season. They had a lot of injuries to key players. They were in the World Series last year. They know how to win. Most importantly, their players are now healthy.

The A’s entered the game having defeated an excellent Chicago White Sox team. The Sox, like the Astros, had a potent lineup. A’s manager wanted the team to win the first game. Astros’ manager, Dusty Baker, had similar thoughts for his team.

The A’s drew first blood in the bottom of the second inning. With one out, A’s first baseman, Matt Olson, walked. Designated hitter, Khris Davis, hit Lance McCullers first pitch into the right-center-field seats to put the A’s ahead 2-0.

The A’s made it 3-0 in the bottom of the third. Catcher Sean Murphy led off the frame with a blast to center-field.

The Astros tied the game in the fourth. Alex Bregman led off with a solo homer to put the Astros on the board. Kyle Tucker singled. Carlos Correa homered to tie the game. The A’s regained the lead when Matt Olson hit a solo home run to make it 4-3. The A’s added another run in the fifth to take a 5-3 lead. They didn’t know it the time that Oakland would not score again.

Houston’s fortune changed in the sixth. With two out, former A’s player, Josh Reddick, reached on Marcus Semien’s fielding error. The Astros took advantage and scored four unearned runs. Maldonado singled, Springer doubled, Altuve singled, and Brantley singled to produce the runs. The Astros now lead 7-5.

Carlos Correa homered for the second time in the eighth to make it 8-5. They added two more in the ninth to put the game away 10-5.

Game Notes- The line score for Houston was ten runs, sixteen hits, and one error. For Oakland, it was five runs, eight hits, and one error.

How important was winning game one? Houston is in the driver’s seat. They can split the two of the four remaining games to advance. The A’ must now win three out four. It can be done, but it will not be easy.

Marcus Semien and Khris Davis led the A’s offense with two hits each. Davis had a two-run homer in the second inning. Matt Olson and Sean Murphy also connected for Oakland.

George Springer had four hits in the game. He had three singles and a double. Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, and Kyle Tucker each had three hits. One of Bregman’s hit was a home run. Carlos Correa had three hits, two of which were big flys. Correa was the first shortstop to have two multi-home run games in the post-season.

Houston’s bullpen shut down the A’s offense without a hit after the fifth inning. The A’s bullpen, the best in baseball, had a meltdown as they were burnt for seven runs. A’s manager Bob Melvin will have his work cut out for him as he has to figure out ways to shutdown Houston’s offense.


Houston’s manager, Dusty Baker, became the first manager to lead five teams into the post-season. The teams were the Giants, Cubs, Reds, Nationals, and now, the Astros. Way to go, Dusty.

Game two of the five-game series will be played Tuesday afternoon at Dodger stadium. The game will start at 1:37 pm.
Lefty Sean Manaea will go for Oakland. Manaea faced the Astros just once this season. On September 10th, he went seven innings and allowed only one hit. The Astros will counter with lefty Framber Valdez. Valdez faced the A’s on August 8th. He went seven innings and allowed two runs (one earned) and struck out nine.

MLB The Show podcast with Larry Crino: Ex-Dodger on the run for suspicion of murder found dead in Arizona; Ex-Reds Larkin says MVP Award has a dark cloud over it; plus more

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Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Charlie Haeger (left) was found dead on a Flaggstaff trail and his girlfriend Danielle Breed (right) was found dead in her home. Haeger was being sought by police for suspicion of murdering Breed. (file photo from the Daily Mail)

On MLB The Show podcast with Larry:

#1 Larry, Former Los Angeles Dodger relief pitcher Charlie Haeger 37, who pitched for the Dodgers in 2010 was found dead from a self inflicted gun shot wound after being sought by police in Flagstaff Arizona for suspicion of murdering his girlfriend Danielle Breed 34. Haeger 37 who also pitched for the San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox had an ERA 6.40 in 83 career innings.

#2 Former Cincinnati Reds infielder Barry Larkin says that the Kenesaw Mountain Landis MVP Award should be something positive rather than something that’s negative. Landis banned blacks and minorities from playing in MLB during his reign as MLB Commissioner from 1920-1944.

#3 This past week baseball lost one of the greats St Louis pitcher Bob Gibson who was one of those pitchers in 1968 which was called “The Year of The Pitcher” and also the passing of former Los Angeles Dodger Jay Johnstone to Covid 19.

#4 The Oakland A’s will be starting Chris Bassitt in game 1 and Sean Manaea in game 2. Bassitt has been pitching lights out of late and Manaea is looking to make amends for the tough Wild Card outing he had last season in the one game Wild Card against the Tampa Bay Rays.

#5 Talk about the battle of the Southland between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. These are the two top teams from the NL West. The Dodgers are on a mission to get their first World Series since 1988 and the Padres are looking to get their first one ever.

Join Larry for the MLB The Show podcasts throughout the post season at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

MLB The Show Division Series podcast with Morris Phillips: A look at the NL and AL Division Series the Neutral site playoffs

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The San Diego Padres stop for a team photo following their win against the St Louis Cardinals from Oct 2 Wild Card Series  to advance to the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers (AP News photo)

On the MLB The Show podcast with Morris:

#1 Morris there are four sets of Division Playoffs lets take one at a time starting with the NLDS and the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers you’ve had a chance to see both these clubs during the regular season. Talk about who you like in this series and this should be big one for all those baseball fans in the Southland watching this game being played in Texas game 1 is on Tuesday. At Globelife Park in Arlington.

#2 The Miami Marlins were one team no one expected to get this far they had a covid outbreak that resulted in nearly half the team infected and out and quarantined for two weeks. The Marlins had to bring in call ups, minor leaguers, free agents, and whoever was available. Once that was done that group was able to hold the Marlins together until the regulars could come back plus Marlins manager Don Mattingly has been named a candidate for manager of the year. In Minute Maid Field in Houston.

#3 Two of the toughest teams in the American League the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees both teams were having it out for division winner. The Yankees spent much of the 60 game schedule trying to scratch off games on the Rays and finished seven games back. The Rays have been getting it all the hitting, pitching and getting help from such big hitters Yandy Diaz .307 and Mike Brosseau .302. In Petco Park in San Diego.

#4 The Houston Astros and Oakland A’s go at it today at Dodger Stadium for the first in the best of five. The Astros and A’s will be famously remembered for the benches emptying brawl when the A’s Ramon Luareano and Astros coach Alex Cintron exchanged words which led to the scuffle. Will there be bad blood and a round two with these two clubs?

Morris does commentary on the MLB Playoffs for http://www.sportsradioservice.com