Tag: Tampa Bay Rays

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Rays selling club to developer that will keep them in Tampa Bay

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Tropicana Field the day after Hurricane Milton destroyed the roof on Oct 10, 2024. The cost to fix the Tropicana was in excess of Tampa Bay Rays owner Stu Sternburg’s budget while trying to build a ballpark in St Petersburg forcing Sternburg to sell the team (AP file photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Tampa Bay Rays owner Stu Sternberg has reached an agreement with Florida developer Patrick Zalupski in principle on a deal to sell the Rays for $1.7 billion. The deal keeps the Rays in Tampa Bay and is expected to close in September. Zalupski is a homebuilder in Jacksonville and was a buyer who strongly believes in keeping the team in Tampa Bay.

#2 Amaury, Sternberg bought the Rays in 2004 for $200 million. After last year’s Hurricane Milton tore the roof off of Tropicana Field the Rays were forced to play their home games at the New York Yankees spring training facility at George M Steinbrenner Field. Zalupski plans to build a new ballpark and keep the club in Tampa Bay.

#3 Sternburg basically could not go forward with owning the team. Before the Hurricane Sternburg planned to build a new stadium at the Historic Gas Plant District and was planning to design a recreational retail and residential area in St Petersburg replacing the old Tropicana. That was all shot down after Sternburg realized the excess costs in repairing the Trop and later tearing it down to build the new park.

#4 Meanwhile the Sacramento A’s development for their new ballpark is still in question as A’s owner John Fisher is looking for someone to buy the MLS San Jose Earthquakes for $600 million to cover part of the costs of his construction costs. K Pop star Suga and former MLB pitcher Chan Ho Park are putting together $70 million as an investment into the A’s. Yet in still that may not be enough to cover the balance of the construction costs for the Las Vegas ballpark.

#5 If Fisher can not meet the costs of building the Las Vegas park and he stated that the park costs could go up from $1.75 billion to $2 billion if that proves too much could you see the other MLB owners putting the pressure on Fisher to sell much like they did with Sternburg?

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com

A’s game wrap: Late Lightning Fizzles as Sacramento Falls in Tampa 6-5

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Tampa Bay Rays Junior Caminero (right) gets in ahead of the tag by the Sacramento A’s third baseman Max Schuemann (left) during a double in the bottom of the sixth inning at George M Steinbrenner Stadium in Tampa Bay on Wed Jul 2, 2025 (AP News photo)

Late Lightning Fizzles as Sacramento Falls in Tampa 6-5

By Mauricio Segura

The A’s once again took their fight to the ninth inning, but heroics came up just short. In a wild Wednesday matinee, the Sacramento Athletics fell 6-5 to the Tampa Bay Rays, unable to fully erase a four-run deficit built during a disastrous sixth inning.

Sacramento got the jump early. Brent Rooker stayed scorching in day games, sending a solo homer into the Tampa sun in the first inning, his 18th of the year. Max Schuemann added a solo shot in the second, and Mitch Spence looked in control through five, scattering three hits while holding the Rays to a single run, a rare inside-the-park homer from Jake Mangum.

But the sixth inning unraveled fast for the green and gold. Spence, who entered the frame having allowed just one run, was tagged for five, including back-to-back homers by Josh Lowe and Yandy Díaz. A pitching change to Hogan Harris did little to slow Tampa’s momentum. Junior Caminero doubled, Chandler Simpson and Matt Thaiss followed with RBI singles, and just like that, a 2-1 lead became a 6-2 hole.

Still, these A’s have built a reputation for late-inning theatrics. Max Muncy jolted the dugout with a solo homer in the ninth, his seventh of the season. Austin Wynns followed with a double, and Gio Urshela drove him in. Suddenly, the bases were buzzing after singles by Max Schuemann, pinch-hitter Lawrence Butler, and Tyler Soderstrom, cutting the deficit to 6-5.

With the tying run 90 feet away and the go-ahead at second, Sacramento handed the bat to Brent Rooker. He had already homered once. He had also struck out twice. This time, it was more heartbreak than heroics. Rooker whiffed on a high fastball. Nick Kurtz followed, and despite his impressive rookie campaign, he couldn’t connect either, going down swinging to end the rally.

The loss snapped the A’s brief two-game win streak and dropped them to 36-53 on the season. Still, if there’s a silver lining, it’s the team’s continued fire in the late innings. Sacramento has now scored 56 runs in the ninth or later, fifth most in the majors. And their recent offensive struggles may be easing, with the team stringing together multi-hit innings and showcasing the kind of lineup depth they’ve lacked for much of the season.

Sacramento returns home for a nine-game stretch, starting with a Fourth of July showdown against the rival Giants. With JP Sears set to take the mound Friday and the Bay Bridge rivalry heating up, there’s little time to dwell on missed chances.

Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as his own publication, Golden Bay Times.

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in. 

Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s open three game series with Giants at Sutter Health Friday

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Tough deal for Sacramento A’s starter Mitch Spence who gave up a home run to the Tampa Bay Rays Yandy Diaz in the bottom of the sixth inning at George M Steinbrenner Park in Tampa FL on Wed Jul 2, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 Tampa Bay Rays Josh Lowe, Yandy Diaz, and rookie Jake Mangum all hit a home run. Pitcher Ryan Pepiot pitched a quality start that contributed to beating the A’s 6-5 avoiding getting swept on Wednesday.

#2 The Rays down 2-1 in the last of the sixth inning, the Rays were able to score five runs. Josh Lowe hit a leadoff home run to tie up the game and Brandon Lowe came up and hit a double that extended his 18 game hitting streak. Diaz hit a two home run that gave the Rays the lead.

#3 Pepiot improved his record to 6-6 going six innings, allowing four hits, two runs, waked three and struckout nine. The Rays pitching was just good enough to get by Sacramento for the one run win.

#4 The A’s Brent Rooker and Max Schuemann hit solo home runs but it was a day late a dollar short in the A’s one run loss.

#5 The A’s are back in Sacramento to open a three game series with the San Francisco Giants. The Giants have not announced a starter and the A’s will start LHP JP Series (6-7 ERA 5.09) first pitch 7:05pm PT Friday night.

Join Jeremiah Salmonson for the A’s podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in. 

Sacramento A’s podcast Michael Roberson: A’s rolling with two straight wins and four of last six game wins

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Sacramento A’s hitter Colby Thomas slugs a double in the top of the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at George M Steinbrenner Field in Tampa Bay on Tue Jul 1, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Michael Roberson:

#1 It took a few home runs, a few heart-pounding moments, and one dramatic finish for the Sacramento Athletics to fight their way to a 4-3 win in extra innings Tuesday night against the Tampa Bay Rays.

#2 Fueled by a pair of long balls from Shea Langeliers and a late-game lockdown from flamethrower Mason Miller, the Green and Gold secured their second straight road victory and once again showed why they can’t be counted out after nine innings.

#3 The action began early but quietly for the A’s. Lawrence Butler led off with a single, stole third, and watched helplessly as the middle of the lineup went down on strikes. 

#4 It wasn’t the cleanest win of the year for the Sacramento A’s, but it was one of the grittiest. With Langeliers’ power surge, Miller’s muscle, and just enough help from the rest of the lineup, the A’s keep showing glimpses of the kind of fight that stats and standings can’t quite measure.

#5 A’s and Rays continue this series Wednesday at 12:10pm PT at George M Steinbrenner Field in Tampa Bay. Starting pitcher for the A’s RHP Mitch Spence (2-3 ERA 3.82) for the Rays RHP Ryan Pepiot (5-6 ERA 3.36).

Join Michael Roberson for the A’s podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.

A’s game wrap: Rays Can’t Hold the Line as A’s Langeliers and Miller Hammer It Home for 4-3 win

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The Sacramento A’s Austin Wynns (29) hits a sacrifice fly in the top of the tenth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at George M Steinbrenner Field in Tampa Bay on Tue Jul 1, 2025 (AP News photo)

Rays Can’t Hold the Line as A’s Langeliers and Miller Hammer It Home for 4-3 win

By Mauricio Segura

It took a few home runs, a few heart-pounding moments, and one dramatic finish for the Sacramento Athletics to fight their way to a 4-3 win in extra innings Tuesday night against the Tampa Bay Rays. Fueled by a pair of long balls from Shea Langeliers and a late-game lockdown from flamethrower Mason Miller, the Green and Gold secured their second straight road victory and once again showed why they can’t be counted out after nine innings.

The action began early but quietly for the A’s. Lawrence Butler led off with a single, stole third, and watched helplessly as the middle of the lineup went down on strikes. Tampa Bay struck first in the bottom of the second when Christopher Morel blasted a solo shot to center field off starter Jeffrey Springs, who was facing his former club for the first time as a starter. Brandon Lowe added to the Rays’ tally with another solo homer in the third, giving the home team a 2-0 cushion.

But the Athletics responded in the fourth with a burst of power. After a leadoff strikeout, Langeliers lashed a double to center, setting the stage for Max Muncy, who launched his sixth homer of the season to tie the game. Rookie Luis Urías followed with a single, and Colby Thomas, making just his second big league appearance, doubled sharply down the line and nearly brought Urías around before the rally fizzled.

Langeliers wasn’t done. Leading off the sixth, he launched his second extra-base hit of the night, this one a go-ahead solo homer to left that gave the A’s a 3-2 lead. The catcher’s bat has been heating up since returning from the injured list, and his work behind the plate would later prove just as vital.

Springs, who had been inconsistent early in games this season, held firm after the second inning and worked into the sixth, scattering five hits and two earned runs. The bullpen took over from there, with Justin Sterner and Sean Newcomb holding the Rays in check until the bottom of the seventh when Danny Jansen tied the game with a solo blast to left off Newcomb.

As the game pushed deeper into the night, the bullpens took center stage. Garrett Cleavinger and Pete Fairbanks each pitched scoreless frames for the Rays, while Michael Kelly escaped a jam in the ninth for the A’s thanks in part to a clutch caught stealing by Langeliers.

With the score still knotted at 3-3 in the tenth, Colby Thomas was placed at second to start the inning. After a sacrifice bunt and a walk, the Athletics turned to pinch-hitter Austin Wynns.

What happened next was chaos. Wynns lifted a fly ball to left, deep enough to score Thomas. But a perfect throw to the plate by José Caballero forced a wild sequence. First baseman Jonathan Aranda mishandled the relay, leading to a throwing error.

Then Chandler Simpson threw home to catch Max Schuemann trying to score behind Thomas. After a pair of challenges, one for a home plate collision and the other on a tag play, both calls stood. Wynns was out. Schuemann was out. But the run stood. Athletics 4, Rays 3.

In the bottom of the tenth, it was Miller time. Mason Miller came in throwing absolute gas. With Taylor Walls on second as the free runner, the righty struck out Brandon Lowe, induced a flyout to left from Caminero, and after an intentional walk and a rare balk that advanced both runners, he finished it off by striking out Josh Lowe with a 101 mph fastball to end the game.

It wasn’t the cleanest win of the year for the Sacramento A’s, but it was one of the grittiest. With Langeliers’ power surge, Miller’s muscle, and just enough help from the rest of the lineup, the A’s keep showing glimpses of the kind of fight that stats and standings can’t quite measure. They have now won four of their last seven and are slowly climbing back into relevance, one wild win at a time.

Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as his own publication, Golden Bay Times.

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in. 

Clarke Comes Through as A’s Snap Skid with Late Inning Heroics 6-4

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Sacramento A’s Shea Langeliers swings for the fences with a three run home run against the Tampa Bay Rays at George M Steinbrenner Field in Tampa Fla on Mon Jun 30, 2025 (AP News photo)

Clarke Comes Through as A’s Snap Skid with Late Inning Heroics 6-4

By Mauricio Segura

It was beginning to feel like another repeat performance for the Green and Gold. A red-hot start, a mid-game collapse, and a familiar sinking feeling by the seventh inning. But Monday night in Tampa, the Sacramento Athletics refused to play to script.

With a two-run triple in the top of the ninth off the bat of Lawrence Butler, the A’s broke a 4 -4 tie and held on for a gutsy 6-4 win over the Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field. The win snapped a two-game skid and showed some of the resilience this young A’s team has been grasping for all season.

The Athletics wasted no time lighting up the scoreboard. Brent Rooker extended his scorching stretch with a two-out double in the first before Nick Kurtz walked to put two aboard. That set the table for Shea Langeliers, who launched a three-run rocket into left center for his 11th homer of the year, giving Sacramento a quick 3-0 lead.

The next inning saw Tampa starter Drew Rasmussen exit, and from there the game turned into a tug of war. Rooker added an RBI single in the third to make it 4-0 but that lead would not last. The Rays, sparked by a two-run blast from Junior Caminero and a flurry of singles, put up a four-run fourth that chased starter Jacob Lopez and knotted things at four apiece.

Lopez, facing his former team for the first time, was tagged for four earned runs over three and two-thirds innings, a tough outing following his scoreless start in Detroit. The A’s bullpen, frequently a source of anxiety this season, delivered when it mattered most.

J.T. Ginn, Sean Newcomb, Michael Kelly, and ultimately fireballer Mason Miller combined for five and a third innings of shutout relief. Miller closed it out with his 16th save, shutting the door after inducing a game-ending double play.

Despite offensive lulls in the middle innings, the A’s refused to fold. Jacob Wilson doubled in the fifth but was stranded after a bases-loaded jam. Yet it was the ninth that brought the breakthrough. After Max Muncy and Luis Urías opened the frame with singles, pinch-runner Max Schuemann stole second to set the stage. Butler, who had struck out twice earlier, rocketed a triple past José Caballero in left to score both runners and give the Athletics a 6-4 lead they would not relinquish.

The victory was an encouraging sign for a club that has battled inconsistency, injuries, and a bullpen ERA that remains the highest in the majors. It was also a notable debut day for outfielder Colby Thomas, who was called up from Triple-A and made his first Major League appearance in the eighth.

Meanwhile, Rooker continued to look like the heartbeat of the lineup, raising his average to .324 over his last 36 games and cementing himself as the most dependable bat in the order. Wilson added two more hits, lifting his batting average to .338, second best in the majors.

With the win, the Athletics improve to 35 and 52 and, though still on a life raft in last place in the AL West, showed they have the fight to row their way to the mainland. They will try to build on this momentum Tuesday with Jeffrey Springs taking the mound against Shane Baz in Game Two of the series.

Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as his own publication, Golden Bay Times

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in. 

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s Luis Severino not a happy Camper

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Sacramento A’s starter Luis Severino delivers a pitch at Sutter Health Park. Severino pitched against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx Sun Jun 29, 2025 (AP News file photo)

A’s Luis Severino not a happy Camper

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Luis Severino, in his first season with the A’s is the #1 starting pitcher on the team’s rotation. Severino received the largest contract in Oakland A’s history. A three-year deal worth $67 million, including a $10 million signing bonus. With this contract, the Dominican right-hander surpassed the previous record for an A’s player (any position), which was in Oakland, a six-year, $66 million contract extension for third baseman Eric Chávez in 2004.

The Severino deal was finalized in December 2024. The highest-paid A’s player is also the most outspoken. He explicitly stated that Sutter Park in West Sacramento feels like a Spring Training game, indicating the lack of intensity and atmosphere of a regular Major League Baseball Game.

That is very understandable. Remember, Severino came from pitching all his career (10 years) in New York. In the Big Apple, there is never a lack of intensity or atmosphere. He mentioned that the clubhouse in Sacramento, being in left field, is an inconvenience. And then during day games, pitchers are subjected to the sun, which adds to the discomfort, and added, “I was not trying to hurt anyone’s feelings by saying that.”

Leaving New York for Sacramento for Severino must feel like leaving a real metropolis to play in a ranch. For the record, he did not say that; I did. I lived in New York City for a few years. Luis Severino’s problems extend not only to Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, but also on the road.

This Sunday at Yankee Stadium, he pitched 3.2/3 innings, gave up five hits, of which two were home runs, and lost. His record today, a week away from the All-Star Break, is 2-9 with a 5.18 earned run average in 19 games as a starter.

For their #1 starter, that is not what the A’s envisioned this season. He is having a bad season, and from his comments, it’s very clear that he’s not having fun. Severino’s best season was in 2018 with the New York Yankees, 19-8 with a 3.39 ERA. Quote: “Pitching is the art of instilling fear” -Sandy Koufax.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com

A’s game wrap: A’s suffer another Bronx Bombing again, Yanks Judge homers twice in 12-5 rout

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Sacramento A’s starter Luis Severino just can’t pick up a win against his old teammates the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in New York on Sun Jun 29, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

NEW YORK.—The Sacramento Athletics fell to the New York Yankees 12-5 and lost the series at Yankee Stadium 2-1 on Sunday afternoon after Aaron Judge hit two home runs including his 30th of the season.

Athletics starting pitcher Luis Severino allowed five hits and seven runs in 3.2 innings, amid rumors that he may be traded before the deadline on July 31.

A’s manager Mark Kotsay said an error on a ball that should have been caught “spiraled out of control, really”.

“The walks always will hurt you. Today we walked, I think 10 guys. And you’re not going to win, you’re not going to win when you pitch that way, you know giving away free bases is always a concern and it’s something we haven’t done when we win,” said Kotsay.

“And obviously we’re trying to address that, trying to play better defense but executing pitches, commanding the baseball, we didn’t do that today at all.”

Jazz Chrisholm Jr. hit a home run on a fly ball to right field in the second inning to put the Yankees up 1-0.

In the third, Chrisholm Jr. tripled on a sharp line drive to center field and Trent Grisham, Judge and Ben Rice scored. Then a wild pitch by pitcher Luis Severino allowed Chrisholm Jr. to score, boosting New York up 5-0.

Judge hit his first homer in the fourth on a fly ball to left field and Cody Bellinger scored, giving the Yankees a 7-0 lead.

The A’s fought back in the fifth, with Willie Maclver hitting a home run on a fly ball to left field to cut the Yankees’ lead to 7-1. Bellinger responded with a homer on a fly ball to right center field and Anthony Volpe and Trent Grisham scored, putting New York up 10-1.

In the sixth, Nick Kurtz singled on a ground ball and JJ Bleday scored. Tyler Soderstrom walked and Brent Rooker scored. Luis Urías grounded out sharply to third base and Kurtiz scored. Then Denzel Clarke grounded out softly to first base and Max Muncy scored, making it 10-5.

In the seventh, Judge hit his second homer of the game and 30th of the season and allowed Bellinger to score, setting off “MVP” chants from the crowd. The Yankees claimed the game 12-5 and the three-game series.

Severino, who has allowed seven runs for the fourth time this season, said “it’s not been the best stretch” for him. He added that “there was not one pitch” that didn’t work, suggesting that on Sunday it was his performance as a whole.

The A’s are 5-14 against the Yankees since 2023 and are 2-4 in their nine-game road trip.

The A’ (34-52) continue their road trip facing the Tampa Bay Rays (47-37) at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Monday. First pitch is at 4:45 p.m. PT. Starting for Sacramento LHP Jacob Lopen (2-4 ERA 3.56) for Tampa Bay RHP Drew Rasmussen (7-5 ERA 2.45).

 

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: MLB Team for Sale

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Tampa Bay Rays future ballpark renderings. Construction will start this year. The park is scheduled to be ready opening day 2028 (Tampa Bay Rays renderings)

MLB Team for Sale

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Unfortunately, for those real Athletics fans who are here in the Bay Area, the team is not the A’s. Sorry to give you the bad news. The Tampa Bay Rays are now officially for sale, after Major League Baseball put a lot of pressure on their owner.

Patrick Pulaski, a developer from Jacksonville who signed a letter of intent to purchase the Rays (according to Sportico) and the New York Times for around $1,7 billion Unlike the ATH, who have no choice but to play at the Minor League Sutter Health Park at West Sacramento, for at least 2027, maybe more, the Tampa Bay Rays, who are playing at Hal Streinbrener Stadium in Tampa, with only 10,000 capacity, the Spring Training Home of the New York Yankees, the Rays are expected to move to their regular home, Tropicana Field next season.

The Tampa City Council approved $22.5 million for a Teflon-coated fiberglass roof. Hurricane Milton in 2024 caused the damage. The Tampa Bay Rays are typically at the bottom of MLB teams in payroll and attendance, alongside the Miami Marlins and the Athletics; however, the Rays operate a much better front office than most of these ‘bottom dweller’ teams (including the A’s), despite having a very similar payroll.

Example. Currently, this season, the Rays’ payroll is $88 million. Yet, they are in second place behind the New York Yankees ($289 million payroll) by a couple of games in the mighty American League East, while the Athletics are in last place with a payroll of $77 million.

Over the past five seasons, the Rays have consistently finished with a competitive and sometimes winning record, despite having a smaller payroll, unlike the Athletics, who have not achieved such a feat recently. The Tampa Bay Rays have a reputation for excellent scouting, player development, drafting players, and starting pitching, which has kept them very competitive in comparison to the other two lowest teams in payroll and attendance, the Miami Marlins and the ATH of Sacramento.

Moneyball, a few years ago, did not win any Oscars, but was a decent film. However, the concept of Moneyball is no longer working for the A’s, as the data-driven approach to evaluating players that emphasizes using statistical analysis and other methods that made Bill Beane famous is no longer practical. Beane was the Oakland A’s General Manager from 1979 to 2015—Adiós to Moneyball. All success in business comes from the top.”

“The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars, but if they don’t play together, the club won’t be worth a dime.” – Babe Ruth

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com

Ray hangs in there for solid outing to stay undefeated, and Koss’ grand salami carries Giants to wild 10-6 win over Arizona

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San Francisco Giants Jung Hoo Lee (51) is congratulated by teammates Heliot Ramos (far left), Mike Yastrzemski (5) in the bottom of the eighth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Tue May 13, 2025 (AP News photo)

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Arizona Diamondbacks 6 (22-21)

San Francisco Giants 10 (25-18)

Win: Robbie Ray (6-0)

Loss: Brandon Pfaat (6-3)

Time: 3:00

Attendance: 30,960

By Stephen Ruderman

Robbie Ray pitched solid innings after giving up a three-spot in the top of the first inning, and Christian Koss’ grand slam—also his first big league home run—in the bottom of the second propelled the Giants to a wild 10-6 win over the Diamondbacks.

The Giants came into Tuesday night losers of four-straight after Corbin Carroll hit a pair of home runs and Merrill Kelly further stymied the Giants’ offense in the series opener Monday night.

Tuesday night, the Giants had the perfect man on the mound to be the stopper. That was none other than Robbie Ray, who was 5-0. Even better, the Giants came in 8-0 in Ray’s starts this season.

It was Tuesday night, which meant the Giants would be playing their third game in their new funky city connect jerseys. The only bad news was that they were 0-2 in them. Either the Giants were going to lose their first game with Ray on the mound, or they were finally going to win their first game in their new musical threads.

Unfortunately, all signs pointed to the former early on. While Robbie Ray’s night started off nicely with a strike out of Katel Marte, base-hits by Corbin Carroll and the veteran outfielder, Randal Grichuk, put runners at the corners for Arizona with one out.

Eugenio Suarez came up and roped a double down the left field line to put the Diamondbacks on the board. Then up came Josh Naylor, who grounded a base-hit up the middle into center field, which knocked in a pair of runs.

The Diamondbacks had an early 3-0 lead, and they were looking for more. Naylor stole second base, and then he advanced to third on a two-out infield hit by Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

Ray was on the ropes, but he was able to get Jordan Lawler to ground out to second, and at last, the inning was over. Ray had to throw 26 innings to get through the top of the first, and the three runs didn’t help either. However, despite their recent offensive struggles, the Giants have tended to respond to big innings by the other team.

Diamondbacks’ starter Brandon Pfaat threw a scoreless bottom of the first, but the Giants would have their response in the bottom of the second. Wilmer Flores started the inning with a base-hit, and Willy Adames drew a walk. LaMonte Wade flew out to right, which got Wilmer over to third, and Patrick Bailey loaded the bases.

Some people, including myself, have questioned Christian Koss’ role on the team. He had not been off to the best start, and he was seen by some as a waste of a roster spot. Last night, he knocked in the Giants’ only run with a two-out base-hit to right in the bottom of the fifth. Tuesday night, he was put in a big spot, as he stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded.

Koss took a sweeper down the pipe. Then he gulfed a sinker down and in, and he lined it to the first row of the bleachers out in left to suddenly put the Giants ahead. It was the big swing of the bat that the Giants had been lacking over the last few days. It also re-fired up the 30,960 at Oracle Park, who would make their presence known throughout the night.

The Giants had their big hit, and they had the lead. Meanwhile, Ray had settled down. After his laborious top of the first, he threw a scoreless top of the second, and a one, two, three top of the third.

The Giants threatened in the bottom of the third and fourth, but were unable to come through. The Giants threatened again in the bottom of the fifth, and this time, they were able to pad their lead. It happened with one out when Willy Adames gulfed a two-run home run in left to make it 6-3. Yeah, I know. It was the third home run in this series hit to the first row of the bleachers.

The Giants were not done. They proceeded to manufacture another run later in the inning. Wade and Koss each got base-hits, and Wade scored on a wild pitch.

Ray finished his night with a scoreless top of the sixth. Even after the three run top of the first, the rest of the night was not a cakewalk for Ray, but he hung in there to give his team six solid innings, which officially counts as a quality start. He also struck out nine. It wasn’t the greatest night for Ray, but it certainly was not a bad night.

Kyle Harrison, back up with the team in the bullpen, gave up a leadoff home run to Corbin Carroll in the top of the seventh. It was Carroll’s third home run of the series, and no, it went beyond the first row. It went into a tunnel beyond the wall in left-center, but it would have gone into the second, third or fourth row.

Harrison retired the next three to get through the top of the seventh. Camilo Doval found himself in trouble in the top of the eighth when the Diamondbacks loaded the bases with one out. Katel Marte hit a chopper back to the mound that Doval turned into a one, two, three double play. You don’t see those every day.

The Giants would add three more runs in the bottom of the eighth off left-hander Joe Mantiply. They all came on a three-run home run by Jung Hoo Lee, who was already somewhat the center of attention prior to the game on South Korean Heritage Night. Lee’s home run hit the green tin atop the 24-foot-high Willie Mays wall in right, so it technically didn’t even reach the first row.

Anyway, Lee’s home run made it 10-4. Naylor hit a two-run home run off Spencer Bivens in the top of the ninth to make it 10-6, but it would really be no problem. Gabriel Moreno grounded out to second to end it, and the Giants won it 10-6.

Robbie Ray gets the win and improves to 5-0. The Giants are now 9-0 in Ray’s starts this season. Brandon Pfaat got the loss.

The Giants get their 25th win to improve to 25-19. And before I forget, the Giants finally have their first win in the new city connects.

The Giants can take the series with a win in the matinee Wednesday at 12:45pm PDT. Jordan Hicks (1-4, 5.82 ERA) will go for the Giants. Countering Hicks for Arizona will be the veteran left-hander, Eduardo Rodriguez (1-3, 6.86 ERA).

First pitch will be at 12:45 p.m.