Tag: Sports radio

A’s bounce back beat Angels 8-4

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By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s, having lost the first two games of the three-game set, with the LA Angels, bounced back Wednesday afternoon to win 8-4. The A’s used three home runs and three fantastic defensive plays by Ramon Laureano to beat LA.

The A’s Chris Bassitt went five and 2/3rds inning to earn his second win of the year. Pitching against the Angels is no easy task as they have two rabbits that set the table for the power guys. Mike Trout homered for the third time in the series and has hit four of eight home runs this season against the A’s.

Anthony Rendon, signed as a free agent after winning a World Series ring with the Washington Nationals, homered for the third straight game. Shohei Ohtani, Albert Pujols, and Brian Goodwin are all tough outs. The Angels outscored the A’s 20-17 in the series.

The A’s Matt Olson, with two out in the first inning, blasted a 454 foot home run to right field to give the a’s an early 1-0 lead. A’s manager Bob Melvin said Olson’s blast “gave us a jolt of energy.” The lead didn’t last long as the reigning AL MVP blasted a Chris Bassitt pitch over the wall in right field to tie the game. For Trout, it was his eighth of the year and the fourth against the A’s.

The A’s put two more on the board in the second. Mark Canha led off with a double. Robbie Grossman, hitting a robust .310, homered to put the A’s in the lead 3-1. It was Grossman’s third of the year.

The Angels roared back to tie the game in the bottom of the third. With one out, Brian Goodman doubled. Singles by David Fletcher reached on an infield single. Goodwin advanced to third and scored on Tommy LaStella’s single. Fletcher went to third and scored on Mike Trout’s sacrifice fly.

The tie didn’t last long. Stephen Piscotty led off the fourth with a solo home run to left to make it 4-3. Oakland added another run in the fifth. Marcus Semien led off with a double. Angels’ reliever Jacob Barnes retired the next two A’s hitters. Barnes served up a hanging slider to Matt Chapman, and Chappie did not miss. Chappie’s blast went over left fielder Brian Goodwin’s head for a double. The A’s lead 5-3.

The Angels made it a one-run game in the bottom of the sixth. With two out, Angels’ third baseman Anthony Rendon homered. Rendon homered in all three games, and it was his fourth of the year. A’s manager Bob Melvin, brought in Jake Diekman to take over from Bassitt. Diekman struck out Albert Pujols to end the inning. The A’s were still ahead 5-4.

In the bottom of the seventh, Ramon Laureano made his third sensational defensive play of the day to rob Goodwin of the game-tying home run. Laureano raced back to the base of the centerfield wall and timed his leap to catch the ball as it was about to leave the park.

In the eighth, the A’s scored three runs with only one hit. Three Angel relievers walked Grossman, Piscotty, Murphy, and Marcus Semien for one run. Laureano singled to drive in two more to put the A’s ahead 8-4. Joaquin Soria shut the Angels down in the eighth, and Liam Hendriks closed out the game for Oakland in the ninth. The A’s win 8-4.

Game Notes- With the win, the A’s are now 13-6 for the season. The Angels drop to 7-12. Chriss Bassitt is now 2-0. Canning Griffin absorbed the loss, and his record is 0-3.
Ramon Laureano made three outstanding defensive plays and had a two-run single for the day. Liam Hendriks set an A’s record by striking out a batter in 28 consecutive games. He held the record at 27.

The Angels used eight pitchers on Wednesday. Angels’ catcher Jason Castro struck out four times to earn a Golden Sombrero.

The A’s are off on Thursday. They meet the San Francisco Giants for a three-game set at Oracle Park on Friday. It will be the annual Battle of the Bay. The two teams will play six games this year, and the winner of the series gets to receive the Bay Bridge trophy.
Frankie Montas will go for Oakland. Johnny Cueto will pitch for the Giants. The game will start at 6:45 pm.

Pence and Crawford lead Giants to comeback victory 7-6

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San Francisco Giants’ Hunter Pence hits a three-run home run against the Houston Astros during the seventh inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

By Jeremy Kahn

Coming into the game, Hunter Pence was 2-for-32 on the season, but what a homecoming for the native Texan.

Pence, who grew up in Fort Worth and made his major-league debut for the Houston Astros came back home to haunt his former team, as he picked up two huge hits and the San Francisco Giants came back from a 6-2 deficit to defeat the Astros 7-6 in 10 innings at Minute Maid Park.

Blake Taylor served up a three-run pinch hit home run to Pence that narrowed the lead down to 6-5 in the top of the seventh inning, and then Pence hit an opposite field single that sent Mike Yastrzemski to third base. Yastrzemski walked off of Astros closer Ryan Pressly.

Following the Pence single, Darin Ruf singled to left field to easily score Yastrzemski from third base.

With a runner on second base to open the top of the 10th inning, another Giants veteran in Brandon Crawford singled to score Wilmer Flores.

It was a tough night for Giants starter Tyler Anderson, as he went five innings, allowing four runs on five hits, walking three and striking out two.

Once again, the Giants bullpen came up huge in the long run, as they went five innings, allowing two runs on five hits, all by Rico Garcia in the bottom of the sixth inning, as it looked like the Astros broke the game wide open; however, that was not the case in the end.

Wandy Peralta, Shawn Anderson, Trevor Gott and Tyler Rogers went the final 4.1 innings, allowing all zeroes and three strikeouts, including the final two by Rogers that ended the game.

Gott picked up his third win of the season, as the Giants evened up the three-game series against the Astros.

With George Springer on second base to start the bottom of the 10th inning, Rogers was forced to face the heart of the Astros; however, he was up to the task, as he got Yuli Gurriel to ground out to Mauricio Dubon and Springer moved up to third base. Rogers then was able to get Carlos Correa on a 2-2 pitch, and then Kyle Rogers was called out on strikes to give Rogers his first career save.

Wilmer Flores gave the Giants a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning, as he hit his first home run of the season.

Alex Bregman hit a solo home run for the Astros, and it was the 29th home runs allowed by the team this season. It was the 15th consecutive game that the Giants allowed a home run, breaking the record for most consecutive games allowing a home run.

UP NEXT: Trevor Cahill will make his Giants debut on Wednesday, as he takes the mound in the finale, while the Astros will send Zack Greinke to the hill.

Dylan Bundy’s pitching and four Angels’ home runs sink the A’s 6-0

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Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Dylan Bundy delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)

by Jerry Feitelberg

The Los Angels Angels downed the A’s 6-0 Tuesday night at Anaheim. The Angels’ starter Dylan Bundy used all five pitches in his repertoire to baffle the A’s for seven innings. The Angels’ offense, for the second night in a row, hammered A’s pitching for four round-trippers.

The Angels have homered thirty-two times this year, the most in the American League. The A’s starter Mike Fiers worked out of a jam in the first inning. He set the Angels down in order in the second and third innings. The fourth inning was a different story.

In the fourth, Angels’ third baseman, Anthony Rendon, led off the frame with a home run. Designated hitter Shohei Ohtani singled. First baseman Albert Pujols followed with a single. In his first year as an Angel, the veteran catcher, Jason Castro, slammed a blast into the seats in the right field. The Angels added a fifth run in the inning when right fielder Brian Goodwin hit a solo home run to make it 5-0.

The Angels shortstop David Fletcher, who loves to hit against the A’s, hit the team’s fourth dinger of the night to make it 6-0.

Dylan Bundy went seven innings allowing just four hits and struck out ten to win his third of the year. Fiers took the loss.

Game notes- Major League baseball suspended A’s centerfielder, Ramon Laureano, for six games for his actions in the brawl Sunday with the Astros. Laureano has appealed the decision and can play until the appeal is heard. Astros’ coach Alex Citron was suspended for 20 games for his role in inciting the brawl.

With the loss, the A’s have lost two in a row and are 12-6 for the season. The Angels improved to 7-11.

The A’s have now been held to no runs in their last fourteen innings of play.
The line score for Oakland was no runs, five hits, and no errors. The Angels’ line was six runs, twelve hits, and no errors.The Angels have hit eight home runs in the series.

Game three will be played at 1:10 pm Wednesday. The A’s will send Chris Bassitt to the hill, and the Angels will counter with Griffin Canning.

Kings Win!! After losing five of last six Sac back in win column defeat Pelicans 112-106

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Sacramento Kings’ Nemanja Bjelica, right, handles the ball against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

he Sacramento Kings were officially eliminated from playoff contention on Sunday afternoon. That did not stop the Kings from putting on a solid performance on Tuesday night picking up their second win since the re-start of the regular season 112-106 over the New Orleans Pelicans .

Speaking practically, the Kings game on Tuesday night was a meaningless contest. The Kings and their opponent the New Orleans Pelicans had already been eliminated from playoff contention. So, Tuesdays game was more or less an opportunity for second unit players to thrive.

Kings players did just that. The Kings outscored the Pelicans in the second and third quarters to carry themselves to a win in the NBA bubble. Harry Giles was a notable performance for the Kings on Tuesday night. Harry, who had played sporadically throughout the year put together a solid performance. Harry had 12 points to go with 11 rebounds. Harrison Barnes was able to score 25 points to go with eight rebounds to lead the Kings to their second win in the bubble. Jabari Parker also scored 12 points in 14 minutes of action.

The Kings have one final game before they head home for the delayed offseason. The Kings will take on the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday morning at 10:45 AM PST.

 

Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason: Kings playing out the string face Pelicans tonight

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Houston Rockets’ Austin Rivers (25) passes over Sacramento Kings’ DaQuan Jeffries (19) and Harry Giles III (20) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool)

On Headline Sports with Barbara Mason:

#1 Barbara another tough loss for the Sacramento Kings on Sunday this time to the Houston Rockets and they couldn’t hold the lead past the first quarter of play.

#2 The first thing that Kings head coach Luke Walton has to think of when in front of the bench is how he has to shut down the Rockets James Harden not an easy task seeing the Kings came into ESPN World Wide of Sports Arena having lost four of their last five games.

#3 Harden after that weak first quarter lit it up and left that first quarter as just a memory driving to the basket and taking some outside shots that got him 32 points for the game.

#4 The Rockets Austin Rivers had 41 points leading the Rockets and when you get Rivers and Harden with the hot hands the Kings would virtually need their entire line up to contribute on offense to catch up.

#5 The Kings will face their only team they defeated since the re-start of the regular season and that’s Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans on tonight can the Kings do it?

Barbara Mason does Headline Sports each Tuesday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal Bears report: With California leading in Covid cases in the nation Pac 12 shuts down sports for the fall

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Cal Athletics image from calbears.com

By Morris Phillips and Michael Duca

BERKELEY–In what seems like no end in sight the Pac 12 group today voted to cancel all fall sports through the end of 2020 and will plan to resume play in the spring. This was given careful consideration after consulting with the Medical Advisory Committee and the athletic directors of each of the Pac 12 schools.

The committee made clear they were very concerned about practices that involved contact sports such as football. The Pac 12 said when they see that the virus has flattened in a safe way and that cases have gone to a safe number the conference will consider returning competitive sports with a target date of Jan 1, 2021.

Student athletes will have their scholarships guaranteed, the Pac 12 also is offering NCAA grant students who already have opted out of sports programs another year of eligibility for this school year. Those students will receive from their universities advisement and tutoring as support from canceled sports programs and their academic education.

University of Oregon president Michael H. Schill said that he along with students, coaches, and staff is disappointed that it had to come to this but Schill said putting safety is job number one, “All of the Pac-12 presidents and chancellors understand the importance of this decision, and the disappointment it will create for our student-athletes, the coaches, support staff and all of our fans,” said Schill. “Ultimately, our decision was guided by science and a deep commitment to the health and welfare of student-athletes. We certainly hope that the Pac-12 will be able to return to competition in the New Year.”

Cal Athletic director Jim Knowlton and Cal Chancellor Carol Christ put out a heartfelt statement knowing that this impacts students athletes who have worked all their school lives to get to this point only to see their season canceled under such pandemic circumstances, “We are aligned in our support for the Pac-12’s decision to postpone fall sports. While the decision was difficult, it is consistent with our shared commitment to the health and well-being of Cal’s student-athletes, coaches and staff. Our hearts go out to the student-athletes who will not have the opportunity to compete this fall. We are incredibly proud of how they have been navigating the disappointments and uncertainties surrounding their athletic pursuits, and we will do all that we can to support them during these difficult times. We look forward to the day when they will be able to, once again, train for and compete in the sports they love. We look forward to the day when we can, together with members of Cal’s extended family, once again cheer them on as they pursue excellence on the field of play.”

Morris Phillips and Michael Duca are beat writers and podcasters for Cal Football at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Stadium or not A’s will push lawsuit against Schnitzer and State of California

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(Sep 17, 2018 photo from Noah Berger to the SF Chronicle) The proposed site of the Oakland A’s new ball park Howard Terminal where shipping containers sit and where Schnitzer Steel conducts business. The A’s are suing Schnitzer over contamination issues.

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary:

#1 The Oakland A’s said regardless whether they get the new park at Howard Terminal at Jack London Square their still suing the State of California Toxic Substances Control because of Schnitzer Steel’s continuous contamination of the soil near the site of the A’s proposed park

#2 The A’s contend that Schnitzer is shredding over 200,000 tons of metal steel that is contaminating the air, water and soil next to the A’s stadium site. The A’s who filed the lawsuit on August 5th in Alameda Superior Court is asking for legal fees and demanding waste hazardous control and that Schnitzer clean up the toxic waste.

#3 The State of California Toxic Substances Control has been named as a defendant in the case because of their failure to enforce Schnitzer to clean up hazardous materials over the last 30 years according to A’s team president David Kaval.

#4 Kaval said that West Oakland has been suffering from high levels of pollution, health problems, asthma, heart disease, and Covid and the A’s are seeking a clean up plan from the Toxic Substances Control. Director of Public Affairs for Schnitzer Steel Colin Kelly said the A’s lawsuit is an attack on Schnitzer Steel saying the company has spent over $30 million in clean up and is a leader in emissions clean up at the Schnitzer Oakland facility.

#5 Kaval said whether or not the A’s get the park built at Howard Terminal the club will pursue the lawsuit against Schnitzer and the state Toxic Substances Control because the A’s offices are located at Jack London Square and it’s a separate issue from the ballpark.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s Spanish play by play announcer heard on 1010 KIQI San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Angels win wild one snap A’s nine-game winning streak 9-4

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Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Los Angeles Angels came back from a 9-4 deficit to beat the A’s 10-9 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim Monday night. The A’s starter, Sean Manaea, had another rough outing. He went two-plus innings and was tagged for four runs and four hits.

The A’s offense put nine runs on the board to lead 9-4 after four innings. A’s third baseman, Matt Chapman, homered twice and had a triple to drive in six runs. The Angels’ relievers allowed the A’s just two hits after the fourth inning. Angels’ big boppers, Mike Trout, Anthony Rendon, Shohei Ohtani, tagged A’s pitchers for four home runs as the Halos came back to win.

The Angels plated three runs in the bottom of the first. David Fletcher started the rally with a single. Tommy LaStella singled to right sending Fletcher to third. LaStella tried to stretch the single into a double, but Piscotty’s throw from right field nailed him at second. Fletcher scored on Sean Manaea’s wild pitch. Mike Trout singled and came home when Angels’ third baseman, Anthony Rendon, sent a Manaea pitch over the fence in left field. The Angels lead 3-0.

The A’s tied the game in the top of the second. Third baseman Matt Chapman led off with a home run. The A’s put men on at first and second with no out. Angels’ starter Julio Teheran hit Mark Canha with a pitch. He went to second on a Robbie Grossman single. Stephen Piscotty singled to drive in Canha with the A’s second run.

Chad Pinder hit a sharp ground ball to third. Grossman, running on contact, was caught in a rundown. Piscotty motored to third, and Pinder advanced to second. Piscotty scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at three.

The A’s put two more on the board in the third. Matt Olson walked and went to second on a passed ball. Matt Chapman hit a hanging slider about 440 feet to put the A’s ahead 5-3. The Angels added a run in their half of the inning.

Manaea gave up a single to Mike Trout and a walk to Rendon. Trout went to third on a fielder’s choice and scored on a single by Justin Upton. A’s manager Bob Melvin replaced Manaea with J.B. Wendelken. Wendelken was able to retire the Angels without any further damage.

The A’s scored four more in the fourth to take a 9-4 advantage. The A’s loaded the bases with one out. Matt Chapman tripled to right-center field to clear the bases. Chapman scored when Angels’ left fielder Justin Upton dropped Mark Canha’s fly.

The Angels refused to wilt. They plated three runs in their half of the fourth. With one out, LaStella, who loves to torment the A’s, doubled. The next hitter, Mike Trout, homered to make it a 9-6 game.

Wendelken’s night ended when he walked Anthony Rendon. Lefty T.J.McFarland replaced him on the hill. Angels’ Designated hitter, Shohei Ohtani, doubled to send Rendon to third. Rendon scored on an Albert Pujols ground out. The A’s still lead 9-7 after four complete.

The Angels tied the game in the sixth. Lou Trivino was now pitching for Oakland. Trivino struck out Trout for the first out. Rendon singled and scored on Ohtani’s home run.

Mike Trout won the game for the Halos in the eighth. With one out, he slammed his second dinger of the night to give the Angels a 10-9 lead. Ty Buttrey closed out the game for LA. The final score is 10-9 in favor of LA.

Game Notes- With the loss, the A’s nine-game winning streak ended. They are now 12-5 for the year. The Angels improved to 6-11.

Matt Chapman was the hitting star for the A’s. Chappie’s two homers and a triple made him the first A’s player since Mitchell Page accomplished that feat. Page did it in 1977 against Boston.

The hitting stars for LA were Tommy LaStella with two hits. Mike Trout had four hits, two home runs, and three RBIs. Rendon had a single and home run, Ohtani, a double and homer. Rookie Jo Adell had two singles.

The line score for Oakland was nine runs, nine hits, and no errors. The Angels’ line was ten runs, fourteen hits, and one error.

The A’s and Angels play game two of the three-game set Tuesday night. The game will start at 6:40 pm. Mike Fiers will pitch for Oakland. Dylan Bundy will go for the Halos.
The time of game was three hours and forty-one minutes.

He was A Giant? Former first baseman Mike Laga feature by Tony the Tiger Hayes

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Former San Francisco Giants first baseman Mike Laga is the subject interest of Tony The Tiger’s feature “He Was A Giant?” (photo from pinterest.com)

HE WAS A GIANT? Mike Laga

Mike Laga – 1B – 1989-90 – # 21

By Tony The Tiger Hayes

He was a Giant?

Mike Laga, a persevering big lug from New Jersey whose hapless baseball story could have served as inspiration for any number of Bruce Springsteen blue collar anthems, never could catch a break in an itinerant 13-year professional career.

Despite producing Ruthian minor league numbers and receiving gold stars for his determination, Laga never got an opportunity to play a full season in the majors.

Laga would introduce himself to SF fans with a sizzling debut performance in 1989, but like his stops in Detroit and St. Louis, Laga never received much of an opportunity going forward for the Orange & Black.

In parts of two seasons backing up Will Clark with SF, Laga would appear in 40 games, batting .191 with three HRs.

Why Was He A Giant?

Hall of Fame manager Sparky Anderson once championed Mike Laga by saying of his young Detroit Tigers charge: “He will make you forget about every power hitter who ever lived.”

That verbose prediction never materialized, but Giants manager Roger Craig, a former Tigers coach, remembered Laga fondly and recommended the Giants ink the left-handed hitter as backup 1B and pinch hitter for the 1989 season.

Before and After

Creaming minor league pitching was never Laga’s issue. By the time he received his first big league call up in 1982, he had already slammed 77 home runs in three minor league campaigns. He would go on to sock a total of 255 minor league bombs. In parts of nine big league seasons, Laga would muscle 16 balls out of the park.

At times, Laga was not shy about voicing his big league frustrations. After spending three seasons toiling for Detroit’s Triple-AAA franchise in Evansville, IN, Laga had had enough.

“I hate it in Evansville,” he blurted one spring. “I don’t want to go back!”

He got his wish, but only because unbeknownst to Laga, the Tigers had moved their top minor league affiliation from Evansville to Nashville.

He Never Got His Own Bobblehead. But…

In his debut game with SF, Laga would deliver the kill shot in a remarkable win that was the baseball equivalent of the movie “The Expendables.”

After the Giants fell behind early at Cincinnati (9/4/89), Giants manager Craig began removing most of the starters in favor of backups and September call-ups such as Laga.

In the end, when the Giants had overcome a 8-0 deficit to beat the Reds 9-8, Craig would call the riveting victory: “the biggest game I ever won as a manager.”

“I’ve got a lot of guys. I want to give them a chance to play and boy did they ever play,” crowed Craig. “The Killer B’s (the backups) did a hell of a job, but the Killer C’s (the call-ups) won it.”

Trailing 8-0 heading into the seventh, the Giants were literally situated behind the eight ball when their bats began rumbling to life as Will Clark and Terry Kennedy crashed solo long balls off Reds starter Tim Leary.

But then Craig pulled both Clark and Kennedy, seemingly satisfied that the Giants had at least made a decent effort in what appeared to be an inevitable blow out.

Laga, who subbed for Clark, received his first Giants at bat in the eighth with two outs and infield understudy Ernie Riles on first base.

The burly 1B turned on a Leary fastball and crushed it deep into the Queen City night for a home run to make it an 8-4 game.

The Giants were now officially on a roll and that roll would not be slowed.

Flame -throwing , but wildly erratic reliever Ernie Camacho came on to face the Reds in the eighth and he struck out the side, fanning Mariano Duncan, Ron Oester and Herm Winningham in tidy fashion.

Then the Giants bats went back to work in a furious ninth.

With Norm Charlton now on in relief, super utility-man Greg Litton led off with a pinch single. Pinch hitter Candy Maldonado, scalded a line drive but it was right at Luis Quinones at second for an out.

Next, end-of -the – bench guy, Donnell Nixon slashed a single to center field , with Litton stopping at second. Grizzled pinch hitter Bob Brenly reached first on an error by 3B Chris Sabo to load the bases.

John Franco was then summoned to pitch to gray beard Chris Speier – yet another SF pinch hitter – and the veteran infielder ripped a single to center to make it 8-5.

The Reds flop sweat was now starting to form a puddle on the Riverfront Stadium artificial turf.

Catcher Bill Bathe – baseball’s version of Moses – was next, AND, he singled up the middle to plate two runs – making it 8-7.

Rob Dibble came in to face Riles, and yep, the lithe hitter slapped a knock to center to plate Speier and send pinch runner Scott Garrelts to third.

Down a touchdown and a two point conversion just three innings prior, the surging Giants had boomeranged to tie the flailing Reds 8-8.

It was the star- crossed Laga’s turn next, and with steam virtually pouring from Dibble’s nostrils, the new Giant tattooed a sharp two-hopper between first and second base to plate Garrelts with the go ahead run.

The Reds would go on to load the bases off closer Steve Bedrosian in ninth with one out. But Bedrock would retire Sabo on a pop up and negate Dave Collins on a routine grounder to close out a most miraculous 9-8 victory.

After the game the Giants clubhouse turned into a grand jubilee.

“Everybody was screaming and hollering. I’ve never seen anything like it. I’m hoarse from all the yelling,” said pitcher Jeff Brantley.

“That was just a great win,” said Kennedy. “No matter what happens, this game will have a place in Giants lore.”

Keeping with his untimely history however, the man of the hour was no where to be found when his teammates began the merrymaking with chats of “Lags, Lags, Lags!”

“I was outside doing a radio interview,” a disappointed Laga said. “I don’t know what happened.”

Giant Footprint

Wherever Laga traveled in his Major League career his path was blocked by players with deep Giants ties.

At the time of his first major league call up in 1982, aging ex-Giants Enos Cabell and Mike Ivie we’re sharing the 1B position.

While passing those two veterans was not seemingly insurmountable for 1983. But Cabell repaired his swing and rebounded with a career high .311 campaign in 1983, keeping Laga in the minors.

Cabell soon skipped Motown, signing with his former Houston team.

But instead of turning to Laga, the Tigers aggressively pursued SF slugger Darrell Evans who seemingly found the fountain of youth in 1983 – belting 30 HRs while based at Candlestick Park. The Tigers also made a key trade during spring training acquiring star reliever Willie Hernandez AN ex-Giant, the steady and slick fielding 1B Dave Bergman from Philadelphia.

In 1984, a dominant Tigers team would win the World Series with Evans and Bergman, sharing 1B/DH duties. Again Laga would spend most of ‘84 in the minors.

Laga moved on to St. Louis in 1986, but without the DH in play, he was limited to 1B duty. The only problem was, the former Giants slugger Jack Clark was firmly entrenched at 1B. Clark was gone in 1988, but in a 40 game trial with the Cardinals, Laga did not produce.

By the time he reached SF, Laga was pretty much labeled a 4A player. And with Will Clark in front of him, he had no shot of seeing any meaningful action.

It wasn’t until 1991 when Laga received a shot to play in the majors- however it was the major leagues of Japan.

Laga flourished for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks of the Pacific League, playing in 124 games and batting .236, 32, 81.

At last there were no former Giants blocking his path – not even ex-Yominuri Giants.

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Baseball With or Without Covid There will be Brawls

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Oakland A’s outfielder Ron Laureano is intercepted before he can get to Houston Astros coach Alex Cintron in the Astros dugout on Sunday at the Oakland Coliseum (sfgate.com photo)

Baseball With or Without Covid: There will be Brawls

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

As long as athletes are competitive in the game of baseball, brawls will happen. Doesn’t matter if there is a Pandemic. Nobody expected the A’s and Astros players, to put their masks on, and then go and exchange a few punches with the Astros after Ramón Laureano was hit in the back by a pitch by Astros rookie Sunday during a beautiful and warm August afternoon at the Oakland Coliseum.

Ramón Laureano’s 2020 start has been hot, he is hitting well and he is driving in runs for the A’s. This was the second time in Sunday’s game that he was hit and the fifth (5) times that Ramón has been hit during the first two weeks of the season. Laureano charged the Astros dugout after he was taunted by Alex Cintrón from inside the dugout. Then all hell broke loose. Both teams went into battle mode. I remember how mad A’S manager Tony LaRussa used to get every time they hit his slugging first baseman Mark McGwire, which at one time was like the “punching bag” of the team, he was hitting all those home runs and the pitchers did not like it. As simple as that. No need for a great sports psychologist to come over.

Just like when the A’s or other teams hit a walk-off hit, there is a celebration and many times it is not totally contained. I have little doubt that brawls in the game will continue to happen this year, it is human nature. These guys have been trained to be competitive all their lives and in the moment, this is going to happen in the passion of the game, thing happen.

I know some in this culture like to see sort a utopian society behavior, but this is not going to happen, especially in professional sports. The A’s are hot, they have won the last nine games, swept the 3-game series over the reigning divisional champion Houston Astros, a team that is marked after their sign-stealing scandal. A team that in a way is lucky to have escaped much embarrassment returning to the field with no fans during this unique season.

About the brawl Sunday. “That’s one of those things in baseball where you don’t really think about what’s going on with mask-wearing in a pandemic when stuff like that is happening”. Said ex-A’s now Astros right fielder, Josh Reddick who added “You’re looking to get in there and protect your teammates the best you can, and try to minimize a situation that can get out of hand and do something that can keep going the rest of the season that we don’t want to have.

On July 28, Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly threw a ball near Alex Bregman’s head, and then taunted Carlos Correa. That started a benches-clearing incident at Minute Maid Park in Houston, between the two teams. Kelly was suspended for eight (8) games. In a 60 game season an eight game suspension is large, compared to a regular 162 game season.

This weekend we saw photos and videos in the news of lots of people at Dolores Park in San Francisco, not socially distancing, enjoying a sunny day, a lot of them not wearing mask, picnicking, rubbing elbows, throwing Frisbees to their dogs to catch and having a good time. These people were not working, but enjoying some leisure time. In contrast, a brawl happens in the heat of passion when players are working, this is their job to play baseball, and sometimes emotions will run hot and unfortunately are not possible to control.

Because of the Pandemic, Major League Baseball is very strict enforcing suspensions and fines in these types of incidents. Ramón Laureano, has been the best hitter and most consistent player for the Athletics this season, and is sure to get a costly suspension for the team. There will be others suspended on the other side.

Stay well and stay tuned.

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