Tag: Tampa Bay Rays

Ray’s Tyler Glasnow shuts out A’s 2-0

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A tip of the cap after leaving in the seventh inning Tampa Bay Rays starter Tyler Glasnow and the bullpen shutout the Oakland A’s at Tropicana Field on Wed Apr 28, 2021 (@RaysBaseball photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Tampa Bay Ray’s (13-12) outstanding righty Tyler Glasnow earned his third win of the season as he shut down the Oakland (15-10) offense with seven innings with no runs and five hits. Glasnow struck out ten. The A’s starter, Cole Irvin, pitched well for the third consecutive game.

Irvin allowed two runs and seven hits in six innings of work. Irvin struck out eight Rays’ hitters. Had the A’s mounted any attack, Irvin could have picked up a win. A’s manager Bob Melvin had to be impressed with Irvin’s outing.

The Rays scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth. With two out, Ray’s catcher, Mike Zunino, homered to left field. The ball hit either the C or D catwalk—the ground rules at Tropicana Field state that a ball that hits either catwalk is a home run. The Rays added another run in the inning. Irvin walked the next hitter, Brett Phillips. Randy Arozarena singled, sending Phillips to third. Manuel Margot drove in Phillips with a single. The Rays had all the runs they would need to win.


Lefty Jeffrey Springs retired the A’s in order in the eighth. He recorded the first out in the ninth. Singles by Matt Chapman and Sean Murphy had Rays’ manager Kevin Cash call for his closer, Diego Castillo, to put out the fire. Castillo struck out Tony Kemp and got Vimael Machin to ground out to first baseman Yandy Diaz for the final out.

Game Notes and Stats- With the loss, the A’s are 15-10 for the year. They are still in first place in the AL West. Their line was no runs, seven hits, and no errors. Tampa Bay improved to 13-12 and are in second place in the AL East. Their line was two runs, eight hits, and no errors.


The A’s struck out 13 times Wednesday night. They suffered their first shutout of the season.
The time of the game was two hours and forty-five minutes.

The A’s finish the four-game series with the Rays Thursday morning. Chris Bassitt will handle the pitching chores for Oakland. Ray’s rookie lefty, Shane McClanahan, will be making his Major League debut. The game starts at 10:10 am.

Rays hold on for 4-3 win over Athletics

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The Tampa Bay Rays jump for joy after defeating the Oakland A’s in the second of the four game series on Tue Apr 27, 2021 (@RaysBaseball photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Joey Wendle’s stroked an insurance RBI single, and Diego Castillo earned his fifth save, as Tampa Bay edged Oakland 4-3 Tuesday at Tropicana Field.

Wendle singled to shallow left field drove in Randy Arozarena in the bottom of the seventh. The Athletics battled back when Sean Murphy homered to left in the top of the ninth off Castillo, his third of the season, cutting the Rays’ lead to 4-3.

Tampa Bay went ahead to stay in the bottom of the sixth on Brett Phillips’ two-run home run that erased a 2-1 A’s lead and eventually gave A’s starter Frankie Montas (2-2) the loss. Earlier, Mitch Moreland’s sacrifice fly in the top of the sixth broke a 1-1 tie.

Jeffrey Springs (1-0) worked the sixth inning to earn the win. Rays starter Michael Wacha struck out two without a walk in five innings.

Montas gave up three earned runs on six hits while striking out five and walking two in six innings. He was followed on the mound by J.B. Wendelken and Reymin Guduan.

Matt Olson had two of Oakland’s eight hits, while Francisco Mejia was 3-for-4 for the Rays, leading their 10-hit attack.

The two teams meet again on Wednesday, with Cole Irvin (2-2, 3.86) on the mound for Oakland, facing the Rays’ Tyler Glasnow (2-1, 2.05).

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: A’s just ran into O’s Means that ended 13 game win streak

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Oakland A’s starter Jesus Luzardo pitched into the seventh inning on Sun Apr 25, 2021 against the Baltimore Orioles. Luzardo is seen here in an undated file photo. (file photo The Mercury News)

#1 Amaury the ride ended on Sunday, the A’s winning streak ended at 13 straight wins with a convincing loss to the Baltimore Orioles 8-1 but the ride was pretty incredible for Oakland.

#2 The A’s faced a tough competitor in Baltimore pitcher John Means and they just couldn’t figure him out. Means threw for 6 plus, giving up only two hits and a run against the Oakland line up.

#3 The A’s started the season with a slow start losing their first six games and A’s third baseman Matt Chapman is having a tough time getting around on the ball hitting only .159 and said it’s not how he wants to starts the season.

#4 A’s pitcher Sergio Romo replaced starter Jesus Luzardo in the seventh inning and pitched to one hitter the Orioles Tony Mancini who popped out and was lifted after facing Mancini. Romo who has a 12.79 ERA has struggled of late and A’s manager Bob Melvin said getting Romo out there gave him some confidence.

#5 Tuesday night tonight the A’s will start Frankie Montas (2-1 ERA 6.75) and for the Tampa Bay Rays Michael Wacha (1-1 ERA 4.35) the Rays always have been a tough competitor for Oakland set game two of this four game series for us up Amaury?

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast Tue Apr 27, 2021 by Sports Radio Service | Free Listening on SoundCloud

Murphy’s blast powers A’s to a win over Rays 2-1

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The Oakland A’s picked up their 14th win in 15 games over the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay on Mon Apr 26, 2021 (@Athletics photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s opened the four-game series with the Tampa Bays Monday night at Tropicana Field. The game featured a matchup of two left-handed pitchers. The A’s had Sean Manaea on the Hill looking for his third win of the year. The Rays sent 41-year-old lefty Rich Hill to the mound. Hill, who pitched for Oakland in 2016, is a master of the curveball.

He throws from different arm angles, and the A’s knew he would be one tough customer. The Orioles snapped the A’s thirteen-game winning streak Sunday in Baltimore. Oakland was hoping to get back on the winning track with a win. 

The Rays put a run on the board in the bottom of the first inning. Rays’ right fielder Randy Arozarena led off the frame with a single. The next hitter, Yandy Diaz, lined a rocket off Sean Manaea’s right leg. Manaea was able to pick up the ball and fire to first to get the out. Arazarena made it to second. He stole third and scored on Austin Meadows’ sacrifice fly to center field. The Rays lead 1-0.

The A’s defense saved a run in the bottom of the third. With two out and a man on second, Stephen Piscotty made a diving catch on Manuel Margot’s fly ball to right. 

Rich Hill had his way with the A’s hitters. He had his curveball working its magic. The A’s had one hit in the first three innings, and Hill had struck out five A’s. In the fourth, he retired the first two hitters. The next hitter, Matt Chapman, worked Hill for a walk. Sean Murphy, who struck out in the second inning, blasted a flyball to left that barely made it over the fence to put the A’s ahead 2-1.

Neither team would score. Manaea lasted five innings. He threw 100 pitches in five innings of work. The A’s used Yusmeiro Petit in the sixth and seventh. Jake Diekman pitched the eighth, and Lou Trivino closed out the game for Oakland.

Game Notes and Stats: In the top of the seventh, the A’s manager Bob Melvin was tossed from the game. With two outs and a man on first, Tony Kemp hit a popup that landed in between three Rays’ fielders. Tropicana Field’s covering for the dome contributed to the ball dropping in safely.

Elvis Andrus, running on the play, appeared to have slid in safely at home. The home plate umpire called him out. The A’s asked for a review. The replay showed that Andrus’s hand slid across the plate before Ray’s catcher, Mike Zunino, applied the tag. The review crew in New York did not overturn the call. Melvin was incensed and let the umpires know they were wrong. They sent Melvin to the clubhouse. 

Manaea’s line was five innings of work, four hits, and one run allowed. His record improved to 3-1. Lou Trivino earned his third save in three opportunities. Rich Hill was the hard-luck loser. He went six innings and allowed two runs and two hits. His only mistake was the gopher ball that he served up to Murphy.

Rich Hill hit Mark Canha with a pitch in the third inning. It was the 59th time that a pitch has hit Canha in his time with the A’s. He and Sal Banda are tied for first in Oakland A’s history in that department.

With the win, the A’s are 15-8 for the season. The Rays, defending American League champions, are 11-12.

The A’s and Rays play game two of the series Tuesday night. Righty Frankie Montas (2-1) will go for Oakland. The Rays will counter with righty Michael Wacha (1-1). The game will start at 4:05 pm.

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: A’s open four game series in Tampa Bay tonight

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Oakland A’s pitcher Sean Manaea talks with a teammate before their game against the Baltimore Orioles on Sat Apr 24. 2021 at Camden Yards in Baltimore (photo from @Athletics)

On the A’s podcast with Barbara:

#1 Barbara during the streak the Oakland A’s (14-8) had been getting not only the starting pitching but the bullpen in threes and fours per game were sometimes were able to keep a shutout going.

#2 In the Minnesota Twins (7-13) series in Oakland last week the A’s pitched two shutouts both ends of a doubleheader 7-0 and 1-0.

#3 Barbara in that doubleheader against the Twins in the front game A’s starter Sean Manaea went the distance going seven innings and surrendering just six hits and in the night cap A’s starter Jesus Luzardo threw for 5.1 and gave up two hits and had Lou Trivino and Jake Diekman close the game.

#4 In the just completed Baltimore (9-12) series the A’s got some great starting pitching from Cole Irvin on Friday throwing for 5.1 innings, eight hits and one run. On Saturday Chris Bassitt threw for six innings, eight hits and two earned runs both for wins.

#5 The A’s will are in Tampa Bay to open a four game series starting tonight. The A’s and Rays (11-11) have not announced starting pitchers for tonight’s contest. The Rays have won six of their last ten games and are second in the AL East just 1.5 behind the Boston Red Sox. The Rays have always been a competitor against the A’s in season and post season.

Join Barbara for complete coverage of A’s baseball each Monday morning at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason Mon Apr 26, 2021 by Sports Radio Service | Free Listening on SoundCloud

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: The day the Manager became a Computer

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Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash removes pitcher Blake Snell (4) in the sixth inning of game six on Tue Oct 27, 2020 at Globe Life Park in Arlington vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers (AP News photo)

The day the Manager became a Computer

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash will probably be named the Manager of the Year in the American League. These awards are given for the regular season. He managed his ball club to the best record in the American League, 40-20. With a team riddled with injuries during the season, Cash did a very good job. However, he made one inexcusable move in the deciding six-game of this World Series.

It was a do-or-die game for the Rays, as the Dodgers were leading the Series 3 games to 2. Cash sent his best pitcher to the mound, lefty Blake Snell in hope to get more than a few innings from the 2018 Cy Young Award winner. Snell was pitching a great game and after four innings had given-up no runs and two hits, while striking out nine. While the Dodgers were celebrating on the field, this is what Blake Snell said to the media. “I wanted to go the whole game”. And why would he not? He was on, executing pitches, dominating a very dangerous lineup.

Then the six inning happened. Snell gave up a soft single to center to Austin Barnes. Manager Cash immediately came out, bringing his best reliever during the regular season, Nick Anderson, who right away gave up a double to left field to Mookie Betts advancing Barnes to third base, followed by a grounder by Corey Seager to first-baseman Choi who threw to the plate, but was late, Barnes scored, a fielder’s-choice and the Dodgers within just a few minutes had tied the game 1-1.

Anderson then threw a wild pitch and Mookie Betts scored, the Dodgers had their first lead 2-1. Regarding why he took Snell out of the game who only had thrown 73 pitches, Cash said: “I didn’t want him/Snell to see Mookie or Corey for a third time”. With that decision by manager Kevin Cash, the game was lost right there and so the hopes of the Tampa Bay Rays to win their first World Series.

Mookie Betts homered in the eighth inning against righty Pete Fairbanks for the final score of 3-1 and the World Series title to the Dodgers for the first time since their huge upset of the Oakland A’s in 1988.

Tampa Bay Rays philosophy, has always been right from their front office is to play all the numbers, like a milk shake you put it in a blender and then you have the result. The problem is that sometimes a manager needs to have a “feeling” for the game and just because Nick Anderson was his best reliever during the 60-game season; it is simply stupid to bring him in a situation where his best pitcher was leading them to a victory and a tied Series. Anderson’s numbers in the regular season: 2-1 (0.55 ERA) in 19 games he saved six. Anderson’s Postseason numbers: ten games, 14 2.3 innings, 16 hits, nine runs, three home runs, four walks, nine strikeouts.

Rays reliever Nick Anderson’s said after the game: “I take a lot of the blame”.

Tampa Bay Rays was the first teams to do the “experiment” of having a pitcher start a game as an “opener” with the only mission of pitching the first inning. It was in 2018 and it was used by many teams, including the Oakland A’s during their one-game wild card playoff at Yankee Stadium, which they lost.

Manager Bob Melvin named Liam Hendricks his “opener”. During this 2020 World Series we saw Kevin Cash use four outfielders a few times, aside from the defensive shift, which is now common in the game.

All this is well and good, baseball has changed big time, but a manager gets paid to manage the game as it happens and he makes decisions that do not necessarily have to follow the statistics. Just because Nick Anderson is his best reliever, you must bring him in the sixth (6th) inning and remove your best pitcher that was pitching a heck of a game? Folks, Anderson is very good, but he is no Mariano Rivera.

You can call it stupid, dumb, without basis, whatever, but for me this move by Kevin Cash in the sixth inning can be criticized and analyze ’till the cows come home’, but the bottom line is that the Rays lost the game and lost the Series.

Kevin Cash now will have to live and deal with this decision for the rest of his career. He is  lucky. Why Lucky? Because he manages a small market team, with a small following and a short history. There were times in baseball when a manager makes such move and the next day is fired, in New York in the days of owner George Steinbrenner, he would have fired you in 30 seconds after you made the decision.

But this doesn’t happen today, because of the computer (who was invented by man) is now running man and obviously many in the game of baseball. Some now just look at the “cold blooded numbers” and forget that baseball is played by humans not robots/computers. It is a game of feeling and that includes the manager.

Unless the Manager becomes a Computer.

Stay well and stay tuned

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: 32 Years later the Dodgers win the World Series

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The Los Angeles Dodgers Cory Seager swings for an RBI single in the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays in game 6 of the 2020 World Series on Tue Oct 27, 2020 at Globe Life Field in Arlington (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Congratulations to the Los Angeles Dodgers as they completed the mission, by winning the 2020 World Series in six exciting games against the Tampa Bay Rays. Game Six: Dodgers 3 Rays 1. There are a lot of stories to be told in every World Series, in this one that of the young Cuban-born Tampa Bay Rays rookie outfielder Randy Arozarena who established a new postseason record with 10 home runs, 28 RBIs, the affable Cuban-rookie was a highlight reel by himself.

Corey Seager, Dodgers shortstop won the Willie Mays MVP Award he hit .400 with 2 home runs and 5 RBI and no errors. Seager had a tremendous postseason spearheading this great offensive Blue Machine; he is now a Free Agent. Dodgers are a very rich organization and he should be rewarded with a juicy contract.

Seager gets a World Series ring, and also said he is buying two more rings as he announced he is getting married, right after their victory. Mookie Betts who came alive offensively with a double and a home run driving all three runs in that game six, and told David (Big Papi) Ortíz an analyst for FOX, when Ortíz told him he (Ortíz) would buy a present for himself after winning a World Series, (Mookie) was going to do something similar: “I think I am going to buy a Rolls Royce”. His contract-extension with the Dodgers was around $380 million, so he could buy more than one Rolls if he so desires.

The Dodgers did not have a positive Covid-19 test during the whole season, the Dodgers had the best record in baseball winning their division again for the eighth time-in-a-row, this time with 43-17 record during an abbreviated 60 game season. Dodgers veteran third baseman Justin Turner was removed from the series-clinching game six in the seventh inning, due to positive Covid-19 test, he was not there after the game to join his teammates for the celebration. This was announced after the game.

One move that will haunt Ray’s manager Kevin Cash for the rest of his life was removing his best pitcher, lefty Blake Snell in the six inning with a 1 to 0 lead, after totally dominating the powerful and difficult Dodgers lineup. But with this manager (like many other managers in today’s game) you win with the bullpen and you lose with the bullpen. His decision will be like a ghost that would be with him until he gets to win a World Series for his team.

You might have been too young, or maybe not even born, but it was in 1988 when the Los Angeles Dodgers upset the baseball world by beating the much superior Oakland Athletics in five games. This Series is mostly remembered as the pinch-hit walk-off home run hit by Dodgers Kirk Gibson against the best closer in baseball at that time, Fremont’s own Dennis Eckersley in Game 1. Gibson would never bat again in that Series. I was there with the A’s, the first of three World Series in a row for Tony LaRussa’s A’s.

Kirk Gibson could barely walk after some injuries he suffered during the NL Championship Series. I remember saying on the radio after the game something like: “It was Game One, but it had a Game Seven feeling” and also a bad omen for the Athletics.

When you talk about that ’88 Series most people remember it as the “Kirk Gibson moment”. It was pitcher Orel Hershiser who would be the MVP. He won it all that year as he led the league with 23 wins and 267 innings pitched winning the Cy Young, setting the all time scoreless streak at 59 innings. He also won the Gold Glove.

Orel was Superman, he won Game 2 and Game 5, pitched both complete games (18) innings allowed a total of seven hits, struck out 17 and had a 1.00 earned run average. In today’s baseball and in World Series history, that is one of the most dominant pitching performances, against the excellent and powerful offensive Oakland A’s team.

The 1988 AL Champion Oakland Athletics won 104 games and was maybe the best Tony LaRussa A’s team he managed during his 10 years as manager at Oakland. The A’s would go on to win it the next season, 1989 against the SF Giants in a historic Series stopped by 11 days because of an earthquake. That was the last time the Athletics won anything of significance in October.

Fast forward to 2020, the Year of the Dodgers, but not as the underdogs this time. They had the best record during the Covid 60-game season, with 43-17. After winning their eighth consecutive Western Division, they went into the playoffs swept the Milwaukee Braves in the two game Wild Card Series then eliminated the Atlanta Braves in an exciting seven game NL Championship Series. Stayed at Globe Life Field in Arlington to host the AL Champion Tampa Bay Rays.

In 1988 the Dodgers were not the best team, but they beat the Athletics. But now 32 years later, the Dodgers had the best team and they won the World Series. For the Dodgers franchise this was their six World Championship title, one in Brooklyn in 1955 the other five in Los Angeles. LA crowned the Lakers NBA Champs just a couple of weeks ago, now herer come the Dodgers. I picked the Dodgers in six, in a previous article on this website,

So, we say Adiós to this historic 2020 season and until next Spring Training.

Stay well and stay tuned

Join Amaury each week for That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Rays Snell goes up against Dodgers Gonsolin in game 6 tonight

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Los Angeles Dodgers Max Muncy rounds the bases as he’s cheered on by Cody Bellinger (35) and the Dodgers dugout in the fifth inning of the World Series game 5 at Globelife Stadium in Arlington. Both teams had Monday night off before game 6 on Tuesday. (LA Times photo)

On That’s Amaury’s podcast:

#1 Amaury it might have been a brief 60 game schedule for the regular season and a different format for the post season, and the Dodgers didn’t play at Dodger Stadium for the post season but none the less after losing three of the last three World Series the Dodgers have one more game to get a shot at the ring.

#2 Amaury Joe Pederson added to the Dodgers run tally with a home run in game 5 it proved to be important as the Dodgers beat the Tampa Bay Rays by two runs 4-2.

#3 The Dodgers got some great pitching from starter Clayton Kershaw pitching over five innings and giving up two runs striking out six.

#4 Max Muncy also hit for a key home run in the fifth inning a 406 foot shot to center right and it was enough for the Dodgers to come away with the two run victory.

#5 A crucial game for both teams tonight at Arlington as the Rays need to win game 6 to tie and stay alive in the series and for the Dodgers to win game 6 to wrap their first World’s Championship in their last four World Series tries.

Join Amaury each Tuesday for an edition of That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Rays Charlie Morton 36 still overachieving; Dodgers trying to make fourth time the charm

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Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Charlie Morton seen here throwing against the Oakland A’s Wed Oct 2, 2020 in the ALWCS at the Oakland Coliseum (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury’s podcast:

#1 If you look at the Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Charlie Morton’s 2020 post season stats at age 36, 3-0 and 0.57 ERA he’s pitching lights out post season baseball and maybe one of the key pitchers that’s kept the Rays post season from ending.

#2 Morton’s achievements throughout the playoffs is incredible he’s won all the games he’s started three and has gone five plus innings just enough to get the bullpen to finish the job.

#3 It’s got to drive Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash crazy to win three in a row and to think it’s in the bag and the Houston Astros win the next three straight and force a game 7 and the Rays to get out of it by a two run win 4-2.

#4 Looking at the Los Angeles Dodgers the Atlanta Braves were no easy task either after losing game four 10-2 down 3-1 in the series backs to the wall the Dodgers came back to win the NLCS winning three straight games.

#5 How will the dislocated arm injury of Cody Bellinger impact the Dodgers going into the World Series against the Rays. Bellinger hit a key home run in game 7 celebrated a little too hard too early when Keke Hernandez forearm bashed Bellinger dislocating his right arm.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: 2020 World Series Dodgers in Six

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2020 World Series logo from amazon.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

This might be the best Los Angeles Dodgers team in their history. They won the NL pennant beating the Atlanta Braves in seven hard fought games; this will be the third time during the last four years that the Dodgers are in the World Series.

After dominating the NL West with eight consecutive Divisional titles. The Blue Boys from Los Angeles have not won a World Series since their big upset over the much talented Oakland Athletics in 1988, that was is 32 years ago.

The Dodgers and Rays ended with the best two records in MLB this season. Dodgers 43-17 a .717 winning percentage while the Tampa Bay Rays lead the American league with 40-20 and .667. The last time the two best teams-with the two best records met in a World Series was 2013 Boston Red Sox vs. St Louis Cardinals, which the Red Sox won in six games.

Two solid teams without many weaknesses will go toe-to-toe starting Tuesday October 20 at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas. The Dodgers have made Arlington their home for the last week, while the Rays were at Petco Park in San Diego. The Dodgers have the second biggest payroll in MLB while the Rays are towards the bottom in the payroll department.

Andrew Friedman is the President of Baseball Operations for the Dodgers; he previously served as the Tampa Bay Rays General Manager in 2008, when the Sporting News named him the Executive of the Year.

In 2009 the Rays went to their first World Series and lost in 5 games to the Philadelphia Phillies. Friedman is credited with building that 2008 Rays club who won the AL Pennant with a 97-65 record, prior to losing to the Philadelphia Phillies who won the NL with 92-70. That was the Manager Joe Maddon Rays team vs. Phillies Charlie Manuel.

Dodgers Hitting: As powerful and balanced line-up as there is in baseball. A better team than last year, as they signed Mookie Betts to a 12 years $385 million contract. NLCS MVP shortstop Corey Seager. Hottest hitter on the planet.

This club grinds every at bat and they just make pitchers work, do not seem to go after bad pitches. Dodgers Defense: Excellent in every position. we saw how many runs they saved with spectacular catches specially in the outfield with Bellinger and Betts.

Pitching: The best in the National League with veteran future Hall of Fame lefty Clayton Kershaw, followed by an array of great arms like Walker Buehler, Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin, Julio Urías) who is ready to be their ace in the future) and a very strong bullpen, usually anchored in a conventional way, like veteran Kenley Jensen their all-time leader in saves with 312, probably a future Hall of Famer.

Jensen has been inconsistent at times, but recently looked like his old self. A supporting cast for the Hollywood guys coming out of the pen like: Pedro Báez, Blake Treinen and others

Rays Hitting: Their man so far this postseason is young and dynamic Cuban-born outfielder Randy Arozarena, they have a good offense, but have not been hitting to their potential so far. Rays Pitching: One of the best in baseball, with a system where 12 of their pitchers have worked in relief, one time or another and saved at least 1 game apiece.

Their rotation was the best in the American League, with their three-headed monster of Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Charlie Morton. Their bullpen has as many good strong arms and anybody in baseball (including this Dodgers team) guys like Ryan Thompson, Ryan Yarborough, Pete Fairbanks, José Alvarado, Nick Anderson and Diego Castillo. The Rays do not depend on one closer, like I stated before, their system allows Manager Kevin Cash to use everybody and anybody that is there for the task.

In Conclusion: If the Rays want to win their first World Series, they are going to need more offense than Randy Arozarena, who was named the MVP of the ALCS, A great young Cuban player who cut his teeth in the Mexican League.

Arozarena only played in 23 of the 60 games for the Rays hitting .281 with 7 home runs and 11 runs batted in and even better numbers in the postseason. The Rays best hitter Brandon Lowe has not found his swing yet, he was their best hitter during the season.

Both the Dodgers and Rays needed a day-off and they got it today after starting play from Monday through Sunday without a rest. This World Series (unlike the previous Divisional and Championship Series) will feature two days off. That could be a blessing for these managers, whose biggest job is to manage their pitching staffs.

Manager: Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers. In a big market team like Los Angeles with their great tradition since they arrived from Brooklyn in 1958 is an affable and well liked man. Roberts won the Manager of the Year with the Dodgers in 2016.

Kevin Cash of the Tampa Bay Rays, a young franchise born in 1998, could be winning the AL Manager of the Year in 2020. He could make history and guide his club to their first World Series title.

World Series records: Los Angeles Dodgers franchise won: 1959, 1963, 1965, 1981, and 1988. and Brooklyn Dodgers in 1955… Tampa Bay Rays never won a World Series.

Schedule: All games played at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. From October 20 to (if necessary game seven)October 28, There will be two (2) days off the 22nd and 26th. FOX Television is the official World Series station. Check your local listings.

Stay well and stay tuned.

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